Returning Students Bring UMW’s Fall Semester to Life

After three weeks of fully remote learning, University of Mary Washington students began moving into residence halls – and bringing the fall semester to life – last week.

Under the clouds of overcast skies and a global pandemic, UMW’s delayed four-day “move-in” played out much like – and unlike – it has in years past. More than 1,700 undergraduates and their family members, wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing, toted boxes and bins, posters and pillows, fridges and food, into their new homes on campus.

“This semester might look a little different, but it will be a great one if we all work together and MMDC!” UMW President Troy Paino tweeted Wednesday, on the eve of first-year students’ Thursday arrival. He was unable to step into residence hall rooms and help erect lofts, as he has done in the past, but he greeted cars on Double Drive and roamed the campus checking in on families.

Signs across campus serve as reminders to “MMDC”—monitor, mask, distance and clean – and socialize responsibly, limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people, as part of UMW’s comprehensive Return to Campus Plan.

In-person and hybrid classes will run through Nov. 20, with all courses returning to a remote format after Thanksgiving break as the semester winds down.

“Life and energy have returned to our campuses,” UMW’s COVID-19 co-coordinators wrote in an email, with students and families returning to campus. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.

More than 1,700 undergraduates moved into residence halls beginning last Thursday. Students – and the entire UMW community – are charged with following the rules of the comprehensive Return to Campus Plan to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.

Signs across campus remind students to follow guidelines, such as “MMDC” – monitoring, masking, cleaning and distancing. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.

First-year student Sophia Carr of Alexandria works with her father, Jeff, to assemble a bed in her UMW residence hall. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.

UMW President Troy Paino and wife Kelly greet new arrivals last Thursday, when UMW welcomed first-year students to campus, after a three-week delay in in-person learning, due to COVID-19. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.

“For those of you who will be continuing with classes [fully] remotely, know that your presence is missed but you are ever present in our hearts and minds,” COVID-19 Co-coordinators, Chief of Staff Jeff McClurken and Associate Provost for Academic Engagement and Student Success Tim O’Donnell, wrote in an email to students on Sunday.

Administrators are counting on adherence to meticulous plans put in place after months of diligent effort and conferring with other university administrators. With lessons learned from other schools and a compliant campus community, the goals is to keep the fall semester on track.

“There’s no perfect amid a pandemic,” Paino said in an editorial published in The Free Lance-Star last week. “But we’ve done the best we can to keep health and safety front and center.”

President Paino and wife Kelly chat with first-year student Adrian Lopez of Westmoreland County. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.

“This semester might look a little different, but it will be a great one if we all work together … ” UMW President Troy Paino tweeted. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.

A first-year student moves into his new home on the UMW campus. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.

Rugby players Lloyd Stephens of England (with control), Wen Yates of Williamsburg (on bed) and Aidan Hendry of Scotland play video games and follow social-distancing guidelines during Mary Washington Move-In. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.

This year’s Mary Washington Move-In event looked much like those in year’s past, with students moving mini-fridges and food supplies into residence halls. UMW administrators are counting on everyone in the University community to follow social distancing and other rules put in place due to COVID-19. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.

President Paino was on hand to speak with students – and remind them of COVID-19 guidelines – as they moved into residence halls. Photo by Suzanne Rossi.