To Our Beloved Taylor Community: Students and Families, Employees, Alumni and Friends,
Chapel speaker J.R. Briggs (’01) asked us last Friday to ponder three questions: “What has COVID-19 taken away from you? What has it not taken away? And what blessings has it given to you?”
Oh, how I love when Taylor leaders challenge us with probing questions that draw us closer to our Lord.
For me, COVID-19 has taken away proximity, where we can be close to one another in the joys and despairs. It has not taken away the reality of a community “not defined by geography.” And it has given me the blessing of stepping back, and reconsidering the essentials of what Taylor is.
As God calls us deeper in this season of change, we rest in His faithfulness. May this video inspire you, and unite us, as we look to Him to “accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Important Taylor Updates
VIRTUAL LEARNING
This is week four since our semester resumed virtually on March 30. What a time of intense and competing emotions this has been as our students, faculty and staff adapt, just like you have had to do. A recent survey of our students shows that 68% gave a “thumbs up” to their virtual classes. We celebrate the amazing work done by our faculty, students and families to adjust to this format. In the same survey, 44% of the students said they were “doing okay” and 43% said they were “doing mostly well.” All deeply miss deeply the on-campus community that sets Taylor apart. Please pray for our students.
FINANCIAL REALITIES
The pandemic has adversely impacted Taylor financially, as it has colleges everywhere. We have taken a $3.5M hit to our fiscal year due to the adjustment to room and board charges. It was the right thing to do. As we endure this difficult financial season and address more uncertainties to come, we are reminded that Taylor has weathered financial storms throughout our history, and that God has faithfully brought us through safely. We are planning expectantly as we innovate and steward resources wisely, while staying focused on developing more servant leaders. Nevertheless, we are taking difficult steps this week to furlough some employees and reduce expenses further, not knowing yet how today’s economic realities will impact future student enrollment. This is not an easy week for our employees. Please pray for them.
ALL-TAYLOR TOWN HALL ON APRIL 29
Many have reached out to ask how Taylor is doing. I invite you to join me for an online Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. (ET) when I will give a more detailed Taylor update. We will stream the event on Taylor’s Facebook and Instagram sites. Please mark your calendars – we’d love to have you join us.
Above all, I am keenly aware of and deeply grateful for your prayers for us. We are praying for you, too. May our faithful God guide us all as we stay or get well, finding creative new ways to minister Christ’s redemptive love and truth to our world in need.
Faithfully and together,
Paige Comstock Cunningham, PhD, JD
Interim President