Well good afternoon Pierce College family and friends. I'm talking to you from my home where I have

have been working remotely just like you since we've been directed to do so.

Through teleconferencing, phone calls, texting and emails, many of you have been putting

in long hours, and we have been working together to move instruction and operations online.

Thanks to everyone's hard work we are up and running and we are ready to begin spring quarter

April 6th, and we will continue to work remotely throughout the quarter.

Moving all of our courses and operations to an online platform within days has been no

easy task. I've been so inspired by the tenacity and resiliency and hard work of all of you.

You're thinking out of the box to find solutions is why Pierce College is one of the best

community colleges in the nation. We want to assure everyone that we are doing our best to minimize the

interruptions on teaching and learning and to continue to provide accessibility to the best of our ability.

Our website has resources to guide you through this transition and even though you won't see us face-

to-face physically, we are here by calling, texting, emailing, and video chats to answer your questions.

You know the stay-at-home order by Governor Inslee is forcing us to slow down a bit, and it's definitely

changing the way that we are working together. I hope that you've had some time to carve

out opportunities with your family and friends and that you are engaged in

quality time and meaningful conversations. You may have been able even to finish that home

project that you haven't had time to complete. I know that I personally have a list of my own.

You know COVID-19 continues to be an unprecedented global health pandemic.

We can't tell how long it's going to last. However, I know that staying true to our

values of kindness and care and supporting our diverse community of learners that we will get

through this together. So please continue to practice social distancing, stay home, stay safe, and always

remember to wash your hands. I wish you good health as you hunker down at home, and we will continue to

achieve our goals and to realize our possibilities. Thank you so much for all that you do.

Please stay safe, be well, take care. Thank you so much.