As with so many other schools and businesses, IWP has temporarily moved all operations online due to precautions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
After March 13, the campus closed, and following spring break, on March 23, all classes moved seamlessly online.
“While it is not the same as gathering in a classroom, IWP faculty have adapted their teaching to ensure students still have the best opportunity to learn,” commented Nathan Bader, a current M.A. candidate.
Enrollment for the summer semester remains open, and courses will be offered either temporarily via distance education or in-person if and when it becomes safe to do so, and as approved by our accreditation and licensure agencies.
While the library is currently closed, IWP’s extensive online library resources remain available, and the library staff has been assisting students in utilizing these databases. Due to the pandemic, JSTOR is allowing students access to expanded collections of journals, primary source collections, and ebooks through June 20.
Extracurricular activities have also moved online, including career seminars and alumni mentoring sessions. Recently, an alumnus from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations led a recruitment seminar for IWP students. Seminars have also covered careers in international development, intelligence, law enforcement, and compliance and sanctions.
Student events like the traditional “Pizza with the President” for graduating students have also moved online, as has the Student Roundtable series, where faculty members discuss various topics with students in an informal setting.
Meanwhile, IWP’s public guest lecture series is continuing online. IWP Founder and President Dr. John Lenczowski took questions on “The Virus and the China Threat” via webinar on April 15. Upcoming webinars include “Don’t Take Your Base: America’s Baseball Diplomacy with Cuba” on May 11 and “Reagan’s Cold War: Indications & Warning Intelligence” on May 19.
In lieu of in-person lectures, our faculty experts have addressed the impact of the coronavirus on the energy market and the economy via podcast.
Commencement for the Class of 2020 has been postponed to September 12. (It had previously been scheduled for Saturday, May 16.) The timing and venue will be the same: It will take place at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C. at 11:00 AM. Richard V. Allen, former National Security Adviser to President Reagan, still plans to be our keynote speaker on the new date.
IWP Founder and President John Lenczowski commented: “At a time when many graduations are being canceled, we are very pleased that we will be able to host what is one of the loveliest events of the year for IWP: a celebration of the Class of 2020 and their achievements. As we are a smaller school, we honor each graduate individually during this ceremony, and we hope that our graduates and their families can still join us on the new date.”
IWP has been keeping its community of students, alumni, and supporters up to date on our response to the coronavirus situation as it unfolds. We have asked our students to notify us if the virus has created employment or family issues that may disrupt their enrollment at IWP so that we can work with them to identify resources to help find a solution that will eliminate or minimize the disruption to their education. For quick reference, we have created a page of resources related to the coronavirus.
IWP has shared with its community the implications of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) which was signed into law on March 27. The Student Affairs Office has been communicating with students about its specific benefits for student loan recipients, and our Director of Financial Aid has been supporting students who have questions. We also shared with our supporters the charitable giving implications of the CARES Act.
IWP Executive Vice President Larry Cosgriff commented: “IWP’s highest priority during this pandemic is for the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff, and we will open our campuses only when it is deemed safe to do so.”