WFU President talks with Vice President Pence about COVID-19 and higher education

Wake Forest University President Nathan Hatch was among a group of 14 higher education leaders from across the country invited to talk today with Vice President Mike Pence regarding the impact of COVID-19 on colleges and universities and what it will take to reopen campuses in the fall.

In this afternoon’s teleconference, they discussed best practices to get students back to school and the guidance released by President Trump and the CDC which calls upon colleges and universities to develop, implement and maintain a plan to ensure the health and safety of students, faculty and staff.

“I wanted to use this important forum to focus on the vital role universities play in their communities,” Hatch said. “When I was asked to share my perspective, I highlighted the ‘Mask the City’ initiative and shared the creativity, collaboration and unity of the Winston-Salem community. This conversation is about more than returning to in-person classroom instruction at our nation’s universities; our concern should be about supporting our communities well as we seek to regain economic vitality safely.”

In addition to leading Wake Forest for the past 15 years, Hatch is the chair of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities. 

Read President Hatch’s message to the community about what he discussed with Vice President Pence »