President Creed’s message to Campbell community: University operations

President J. Bradley Creed updates the Campbell University community on Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order to “stay home” through April, and what that means for operations on Campbell’s campuses.

TRANSCRIPT

Well, good afternoon and greetings from Buies Creek.

I’m here at Camel Central, and reaching out to you today.

It’s kind of empty around here; very unusual for a bright sunny afternoon during a spring semester.

I’m accustomed to seeing students going to Starbucks or Chick-fil-a, and greeting me as we walk by.

So I hope you’re doing well today, and you’re doing your instructions online while we’re here on campus.

Governor Cooper, the governor of our state, has issued a “Stay at Home” executive order that will last for at least 30 days through the end of April and possibly longer.

There are exemptions for higher education employees, so we have a skeleton crew here on campus now in our offices and people as well working at home to ensure that basic services are provided for you. Despite the lean appearance of the campus business still goes on here.

We have Student Life staff who are active in keeping new students connected remaining in touch with Campbell University.

Behind me here is our beautiful Student Union building. You can see a couple of workers out there trying to prepare the finishing touches. Wish you were here to see it. We’ll delay that, and we’ll be able to celebrate the dedication of that at a later time.

Also many of you are taking classes online and remotely. My thanks to our faculty and staff who are helping with remote instruction so that you can continue to receive your Campbell education.

We also have our admissions and recruiting counselors working. They’ve moved to high-tech and high-touch. They’re reaching out to prospective students online through text, through Zoom, and other media, and also trying to make the personal connections getting to know them. So they’re busy at work.

We have other people working as well to ensure that things can go as smoothly as possible.

So from the bottom of my heart I want to thank everybody who is working so hard to make things better for you in this very unprecedented time.

I know it’s a challenge right now, but I believe there’s a bright future.

I’m standing here next to the statue of our founder, the first president, J. A. Campbell. He’s got his spectacles on — that’s what they called them then — and with them he could only imagine a future that he couldn’t see, a future that we’re experiencing here today.

I have my spectacles on, my sunglasses, because it’s a bright beautiful day. Also the future is so bright for Campbell University I’ve got to wear my shades.

God bless you and your families , God bless Campbell University, and GO CAMELS!