Dean's Community Message

April 16, 2020

Dear College of Engineering Community,

With more than a month of isolation behind us, I’m struck by how simultaneously strange and ordinary things seem. We still show up for work or class, although our commutes are much shorter now. We still reach out to each other, although it’s via email instead of in person now.

We’re also learning more every day: about each other, about the world, about how the virus works, and what we need to do to ensure a return to health and safety for our society.

I find positivity in this quest for knowledge, as reflected in today’s quote, submitted by Liz Larsen, a major gift officer:

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
—Marie Curie

As we understand more, we fear less. To be clear — this doesn’t mean we’re grieving less. Many of us have been directly impacted by the virus, and all of us have lost something. It’s okay to mourn. It’s also okay to take a break from the news to focus on something enjoyable: a puzzle, a book, a nap … anything that offers a reprieve as we continue to navigate these uncertain times.

Here are today’s updates:

Remote Learning Continues Through Summer

Penn State announced that remote learning and digital courses will continue through Maymester and Summer Session I and II, although there could be a possible return to in-person courses for Summer Session II depending on how the situation evolves. To help incoming and continuing students adjust to the new format for summer learning, the University will provide enhanced online offerings and support.

Telecommuting for Employees

At this point, employees who can work remotely should continue to do so through May 8. A decision regarding how employees will be working after May 8 will be made prior to that date and will be based on possible extensions to Gov. Wolf’s stay-at-home and life-sustaining business orders and the guidance of public health authorities.

In-Person Summer Camps Canceled Through June 19

All in-person summer camps on Penn State campuses scheduled through June 19 have been canceled. A decision regarding camps scheduled for after June 19 will be made later this spring. If you are unable to find the status of your summer program, please call Penn State Conferences and Institutes at 814-863-5100 for assistance.

College of Engineering Research Experiences for Undergraduates

College of Engineering REU programs will move forward as virtual programs. Please contact your program director for more information.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

Penn State will receive nearly $55 million from the federal government in economic stimulus money. About half of that ($27 million) is earmarked specifically for emergency student financial aid. Details on how students can apply for the emergency aid will be shared broadly as soon as they are available. These federal dollars will supplement Penn State’s ongoing efforts to provide financial relief for students in need of assistance. Since the pandemic began, Penn State has already disbursed more than $113,000 from the Student Emergency Fund to 155 students who needed financial support for a variety of reasons. If you are a student in need, please email L-COE_CORONA_CRISIS_TEAM@engr.psu.edu.

Global Programs to Host Virtual Town Hall

Penn State Global Programs will host a virtual town hall for international students at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21. This meeting will provide updates and answers to students most pressing concerns regarding the novel coronavirus pandemic. Students may join the town hall here.

Graduate School Virtual Town Hall Video

Graduate students were given an opportunity to have their questions on Penn State’s response to the novel coronavirus answered during a virtual town hall event on April 9 hosted by the Penn State Graduate School. The video of the event is available video of the event is available here.

COVID-19 Research Resource Guide

Penn State University Libraries has developed a curated guide to COVID-19 related resources for researchers, including ongoing research at Penn State. The guide is being continually updated as more information and resources become available. To suggest a new resource to include, send an email to Herref@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

Remote Teaching Tip

Today’s Remote Teaching Tip is provided by Professor Kenneth Brentner, from the Department of Aerospace Engineering.

RTT #4: Provide online exams for students with unreliable internet connections by building the exams in the Canvas quiz tool, then using the preview view to generate an exam for the student which can be saved as a PDF and emailed directly to the student at the start of the exam window. This allows you to take advantage of question banks and formulaic questions in Canvas to generate a unique exam for each student, but not require the students to be connected online during the entire exam period. For assistance using the Canvas quiz tool, contact the Office for Digital Learning.

Remember that you can always connect with me on LinkedIn and follow the college on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Also, note that the University’s Coronavirus Information site has been updated to be more easily navigable. Be sure to bookmark it for the latest updates.

Be well!

Justin Schwartz
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean, College of Engineering