IMSA President José M. Torres, Ph.D., today announced the release of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy’s “Fall 2020 Remote Working and Distance Learning Plan”. The guidance details a May 20, 2020 Board of Trustees’ decision to open for remote working and distance learning at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.
“During this unprecedented time and out of an abundance of caution, we wanted to give our community, students, parents, staff, including faculty, time to plan effectively,” says Torres. “We are taking every step to ensure a full and robust IMSA experience, including dynamic learning environments, diversity of opportunity, and shared experiences among all learners,” he adds.
According to Torres, there are unique challenges to reopening IMSA based on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, he appointed a Transition Task Force whose comprehensive work has helped inform the fall 2020 Plan from a health and safety perspective and accounting for student experience, academics, outreach, employee well-being, operations, and communications.
“This Plan was developed based on lessons learned, feedback from our IMSA community, and research analysis. It moves us forward, intentionality on a path that keeps our students and employees at the forefront,” says Torres.
Virtual Town Halls for employees are on Tuesday, August 4, at 1:00 p.m. and for students and parents on Wednesday, August 5, at 7:00 p.m. to review the Plan and answer questions from the community.
IMSA’s goal is for students and staff, including faculty, to return to campus when it is safe to do so. See the Plan for specific criteria.
“We believe strongly in the transformative power of IMSA’s living-learning environment,” says Torres. “At the same time, we remain focused on the educational mission of IMSA, to ignite and nurture creative, ethical, scientific minds that advance the human condition,” he concludes.
