Hello Everyone, Dr. C here.  
 
I’m wanting to just send you a quick message so you know that I and Blue Ridge are thinking of you.  This COVID19 pandemic has changed the way we socialize, the way we educate, and continue our regular business.  I have a strong group of people who are working to serve as the Blue Ridge Taskforce.  We meet virtually every day ensuring that services and needs are met.  Our faculty have quickly responded to the need to move their classes online. Hopefully, you the students are settling into that way of learning.   We know some of you are in classes that are currently deferred until the social distancing, stay-at-home order is released.  And we’ll get those classes moving as soon as we can.  For now, the priority is to do our part to keep our community as safe as we can during this crisis.  
 
I’m proud of some of the work behind the scenes that our staff and faculty are doing.  We have donated supplies to a local hospital; we are preparing to print face masks in partnership with our National Guard and West Virginia Council of Community and Technical Colleges; we are in discussions with our local school systems assisting with food distribution.  This pandemic has been a call for all of us, and YOU to do what you can do to serve and protect our community.
 
We don’t know yet what this means for our graduation ceremony unfortunately.  For me, that is the highlight of every year.  We are exploring ideas and options.  What is most important RIGHT NOW is to make sure our graduating students have the opportunity to complete their studies.  I guarantee you will know what the plan is when we are certain what the best solution is.
 
Lastly, I am proud of you for moving to the online format.  Some of you will love it.  For those of you who may find yourself struggling, please reach out to your faculty member or our e-
Learning department.  We are here to serve each of you during this most uncertain time.

And in College, long ago when I was there, we had this expression when the going gets tough, the tough get going. And I think, I hope that maybe helps you to deal with the struggle we are in right now. Keep yourself safe and healthy and we will see you just as soon as possible. Thank you.