The Husky Difference

On June 19, 1865, enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed by Union soldiers they were free — two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation and months after the Civil War ended. “This is a big part of our history,” says Shavonne Shorter, co-chairperson of BU’s President’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion. “Everybody has the right to freedom. I hope people take the opportunity to celebrate and become more informed about Juneteenth and retain the spirit of the day.”

President Bashar Hanna has announced plans for the Fall 2020 semester, including returning to campus for the resumption of face-to-face classes with social distancing guidelines through a modified calendar. Semester will begin on Monday, Aug. 17, with two seven-week sessions in combination with a 14-week term. One-third of all courses will be offered within one of these three sessions.

Within the green phase, large gatherings of more than 250 people are strictly prohibited. This restriction unfortunately prevents us from hosting an in-person Commencement. Therefore, we will be hosting virtual graduation ceremonies on Saturday, Aug. 8. The health and safety of the entire BU community has been our highest priority since the COVID-19 pandemic swept across our country in March.

A school-record total of 208 Bloomsburg University student-athletes have been recognized as Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Scholar-Athletes for the 2019-20 academic year the league announced on Monday afternoon. The 208 Huskies join a PSAC-record 3,762 student-athletes from the league's 18 institutions being named to the list.

The BU Foundation recently established a Community Impact Fund to support student professional experience projects. The projects will benefit the Town of Bloomsburg and communities throughout Columbia County with marketing studies for non-profits, special projects for the town, engagements within field of study, and more.

President Bashar Hanna shared a message today with faculty and staff. He invited them to participate in virtual campus listening sessions with him this summer. He will be inviting students, alumni, and other members of the BU community to future listening sessions beginning in August.