Dean's Community Message

May 19, 2020

Dear College of Engineering Community,

Late spring frequently brings with it a heavy dose of planning — this year more than ever, for obvious reasons. Below, I outline some of the urgent planning forthcoming within the college to prepare for a gradual return to on-campus research. And, of course, there’s significant planning underway at the University level as we look to the summer and the fall beyond. With all that in mind, today’s quote, submitted by Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Andrew Krebs, seemed appropriate:

“In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Please remember that if you have unresolved issues or questions, continue to reach out to our response team at L-COE_CORONA_CRISIS_TEAM@engr.psu.edu. We will work to answer questions and provide updates as soon as possible. Updates and FAQs are also available at virusinfo.psu.edu.

Here are today’s updates:

Undergraduate COVID-19 Entrance-to-Major Accommodations

Due to COVID-19 and changes made by the University during the spring 2020 semester, the College of Engineering has made accommodations related to the entrance-to-major process. Please visit the COE COVID-19 ETM Accommodations page and COE COVID-19 ETM FAQs page for more information.

On-Campus Research Activities: Next Steps

I know that this is frustrating, with Centre County being “yellow,” but our research labs remain closed at this time, except those previously designated as essential. However, University leadership has shared that a transition from the current Red phase to an Orange transitional phase is imminent. But note as well that Orange is a planning stage, not a “back in the lab” stage. In advance of Orange, we are developing as a college our own forthcoming plan that will be guided by the instructions from the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research. Ultimately the University must approve our re-opening of individual labs and buildings. Steps within the plan — with oversight at the college level — include, but are not limited to:

  • Creating a prioritized and phased list of research-related activities that are expected to increase,
  • Developing options for vulnerable individuals based on Return to Work guidance (in development),
  • Working with principal investigators, facility coordinators, and safety officers to develop plans with checklists for organized and phased transitions, including building access, lab scheduling, traffic flows and signage, physical distancing, and availability and use of cloth masks, lab-appropriate PPE, and sanitization supplies,
  • Coordinating with institutes and other leadership when research spaces are not under College of Engineering control,
  • Reviewing instructions for supervisors and individuals for responding to reported cases of COVID-19 in work units,
  • Obtaining prior approval for undergraduates, external visitors, and visiting scholars to be conducting on-campus research-related activities,
  • Developing plans for quick ramp-down of research-related activities to a level associated with that of an earlier phase.

As part of this planning, we will be working to communicate the necessary processes to manage the flow of information, approval requests, etc. from our departments and research units. While we will be progressing as quickly as possible, the college must follow the University’s processes which focus on the health and safety of our research workforce and the broader community. We will share additional information as soon as it is available. I encourage everyone to work with the system the college is putting in place, which is following the processes established by the University, because this will be the most efficient way to get our research restarted. I appreciate everyone’s patience through this complex process.

Remote Teaching Tip #9: Provide Weekly Updates

To help students stay on track when you are not meeting in person, send a class announcement or email at the beginning of each week. Wrap up the previous week and introduce the coming week. Include any weekly due dates. For assistance with remote teaching strategies, contact the Office for Digital Learning.

Please continue to submit your appreciation for members of the engineering community. Remember to follow the college on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Be well!

Justin Schwartz
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean, College of Engineering