Alumni and Family Engagement Event Updates Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Last updated on June 22. First published on March 13.

As President Scogin shared in March, “in 154 years of Hope’s history, we have not seen anything like this.” On March 11, in response to Governor Whitmer’s recommendation and to support efforts to contain the virus, Hope College made the decision to begin remote classes. On March 20, this decision was extended through the remainder of the semester. All college-sponsored on-campus events through the end of the semester were canceled or were re-scheduled. If you are interested in learning more about these decisions, please visit hope.edu/coronavirus.

You may also be wondering what this means for the opportunities we have planned for alumni and families, both on-campus and in communities around the world. Below is an overview of where things currently stand. As you might expect, things are rapidly evolving, so please check back for future updates. We are committed to keeping you informed and will update this post as the situation unfolds.

March 17 Update on COVID-19 from President Scogin

Presidential Welcome Tour

We have been having a great time introducing President Scogin to alumni and families at Welcome Tour events since November. We look forward to these continuing. However, all events as part of this series have been postponed. We will send new invitations once they have been rescheduled later in 2020 and in 2021.

Golf Outing

The 2020 Annual Bob DeYoung Hope Classic Golf Outing has been canceled. You can still support the Bob and Marcia DeYoung Endowed Scholarship with a gift. Mark your calendar and make plans to join us at the Ravines on Monday, June 14, 2021.

Global Travel Program

Two trips within our growing Global Travel Program have been impacted. The trip to Croatia and the Adriatic Coast has been canceled. The trip scheduled for December of 2020 to Vietnam is being rescheduled for 2021. Guests registered for these programs are being contacted. Future programs will be evaluated each for safety and feasibility. We will continually monitor the situation as it relates to international travel and will make decisions with the safety and health of our lifelong learners as a top priority.

Hope Academy of Senior Professionals (HASP)

HASP is a peer-led institution for learning in retirement with 900 alumni, families and friends making up its membership. Based on Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and an abundance of caution, HASP suspended all in-person programs beginning March 11 and continuing until further notice. Visit hope.edu/virtualhasp for online lifelong learning opportunities. Updates to HASP members will be provided through email and at hope.edu/hasp.

Alumni Weekend

Reunions are special events in the life of the college and most certainly in your life. Unfortunately, Alumni Weekend, scheduled for April 24-25, 2020, has been canceled. Reunion events for the classes of 1990, 1985, 1980, 1975, 1970, 1965 and The Fifty Year Circle will be combined with the events at Alumni Weekend 2021 which is scheduled for April 30 – May 1. The Distinguished Alumni Awards for 2020 and 2021 will be presented at the Annual Alumni Banquet on Saturday, May 1, 2021. The Alumni Association Board of Directors meeting took place virtually on April 24, 2020.

Commencement

Commencement is a special moment when graduating seniors become alumni and continue a lifelong connection to their alma mater. Hope College is planning to welcome back the Class of 2020 for an on-campus, in-person commencement and a one year reunion celebration in May of 2021. Details can be found at hope.edu/commencement.

The Alumni and Family Engagement team stands by to answer questions and provide additional information. Please contact us at alumni@hope.edu or families@hope.edu and we will be in touch as soon as we can.

We agree with President Scogin that this “is certainly not what any of us envisioned for the semester, but it is a time when we can come together as a community to show the world the power of resilience and hope. Spera in Deo.”

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