Dean's Community Message

May 4, 2020

Dear College of Engineering Community,

And so finals week begins! I hope you had a chance to unplug this weekend, even if it was just for a short time. In State College, the weather was beautiful. I hope it was the same where you were, and you had the chance to get outside. I wish you the best of luck for finals week. You’re almost there! Keep going!

Today’s inspirational quote, submitted by Sandra Allain, director of Law, Policy and Engineering (LPE), felt particularly relevant as we enter a week that is typically full of challenges and as we continue to push through these uncertain times:

“You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.”
—Michelle Obama

Here are today’s updates:

Update for Telecommuting Employees

To align with Governor Wolf’s phased reopening plan for Pennsylvania, Penn State faculty and staff at all campuses who are currently working remotely should plan on continuing to do so through at least the end of May, unless otherwise advised by their supervisor or unit leadership. More information can be found here.

LPE to Host Virtual Speaker Series Focused on Impact of COVID-19

The Penn State Law, Policy and Engineering (LPE) initiative is hosting a virtual speaker series — titled “Technology, Policy and Law during COVID-19” — that will consist of six sessions throughout the month of May. The first session, focused on rapid innovation and agile manufacturing, will take place at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, and will feature the Manufacturing and Sterilization for COVID-19 (MASC) initiative. More information can be found here.

Complete Penn State Program Providing Financial Support to Students

The Complete Penn State program is providing resources for students who are within one or two semesters of completing their first associate’s or bachelor’s degree and are experiencing a situation that negatively impacts their ability to complete their degree. Complete Penn State is available to students at all Penn State campuses, including the World Campus, and to domestic as well as international students. More information, including how to apply, can be found here.

Penn State’s Accessibility and Usability Resources

As a reminder, the Penn State’s Accessibility and Usability website has numerous resources available for faculty, staff and students to address accessibility concerns that may be encountered in the remote learning environment.

Continue to reach out to our response team at L-COE_CORONA_CRISIS_TEAM@engr.psu.edu if you have questions or concerns. Penn State updates are available on the University’s information site. Just as a reminder, we will be shifting to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday messages for this week.

Be well!

Justin Schwartz
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean, College of Engineering