TCNJ

18 The College of New Jersey Magazine Caption Holding down the fort Students are the heart of TCNJ, so perhaps no group has been more affected by the pandemic — or the students' absence — than the division of student affairs. "People felt decisions were life and death," says Kelly Hennessy, interim vice president of student affairs. "There's the constant thought of 'We need to keep students safe.'" As the college converted to a remote campus, Hennessy and her staff of resident directors had to find solutions to a fast-moving cycle of questions: where to house international students and students with housing insecurity; if students need to quarantine, where and how to do that; and how to plan for a safe move-out process. Move out was a 31-day event that required balancing ever-changing state safety protocols and anticipating the needs of students, some terrified to be on campus and others wanting to retrieve their belongings. "We didn't know if the virus was transmitted through air, or by touch," says Alex Wehrenberg, a resident director. "So we had to rethink the entire process." That included everything from complex scheduling to propping doors to putting keys in bags. Student affairs also managed the very real question of student well- being. "My main role is to build community," says Wehrenberg. "But that was a daunting task in the distanced reality we occupied." All are eager to feel the heartbeat back on campus. "One of my favorite parts about being an RD is being able to say 'hi' to my residents in the hall as they go about their day," says resident director Michelle Forbes. "Our students have shown such resil- ience during this time and I am really proud of them." Michelle Forbes (left) and Alex Wehrenberg

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