Dear MMA Students,<\/p>\n
I hope your trip home was safe and that you and your families enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.<\/p>\n
As we plan for the Spring 2021 semester, we continue to work toward balancing three fundamental goals: the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff; MMA\u2019s educational mission; and the whole student experience.<\/p>\n
What we know today, November 24, 2020, is that COVID-19 cases are increasing in number in the U.S. and here in Maine.\u00a0 In both instances, cases are expected to grow over the holidays.\u00a0 Due to this trend, we have made the decision to start the spring semester on January 11, 2021 with two weeks of remote instruction<\/strong>.\u00a0 Remote instruction means you will not be on the MMA campus as the residence hall and Commons will remain closed. This does not change our plans for the rest of the semester at this point, but we are continuing to plan for an unknowable future, and we all need to stay flexible and adapt to circumstances as they evolve.<\/p>\n Facts to know include:<\/p>\n I understand that adapting to change during uncertain times can cause anxiety and concern.\u00a0 I encourage you to reach out to your professors, student life staff, or our counselors if you have questions or need help.<\/p>\n The fall semester proved to be more challenging than any of us could have imagined at the start of the school year. Our 12 weeks were cut short as a result of a number of community members contracting COVID-19 and I want to make two points clear: a handful of individuals who tested positive, both on campus and off, caused the Academy to quarantine over 100 other individuals who were close contacts.\u00a0 Make no mistake about this: one individual\u2019s careless behavior jeopardizes the health of others.\u00a0 We are all shipmates here and we have responsibility to look out for each other and this campus.\u00a0 The extent to which all assume this responsibility will determine if we can successfully complete the next semester and all the work necessary for the degree you seek.<\/p>\n\n