Dean's Community Message

May 29, 2020

Dear College of Engineering Community,

Good afternoon. I know these are challenging times, not solely because of COVID-19 — which we have become more accustomed to navigating — but more recently because of violence against people of color and violent protests in cities like Minneapolis, Louisville, and elsewhere. Within our engineering community, which is made strong and vibrant by an incredibly diverse array of voices and backgrounds and nationalities, I know there are many among us struggling to comprehend. We are in pain. We grieve. We are angry. Please know that you are not alone. Wherever you are, if you are struggling — in any way — please reach out to our response team (L-COE_CORONA_CRISIS_TEAM@engr.psu.edu) and also to each other. It’s not just through a pandemic that we, along with your friends and colleagues, are ready to support you.

Before sharing a few updates to close out the week, I wanted to pass along a quote that I came across recently — attributed to Dior Yamasaki — that reminded me of how important friendships are (even at a distance) in helping to navigate challenging times: “Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life.” To all of our friends in the College of Engineering, please take care of yourself.

Here are today’s updates:

Return to On-Campus Research

While research labs remain closed, except those previously designated as essential, the following progress has been made:

  • The college submitted its plan for transitioning from the current Orange phase to Yellow, and the plan has been approved by the Senior Vice President for Research. This plan is designed to allow time-critical research that must be done on-site to gradually resume, while assuring the health and safety of our researchers and community.
  • Departments have worked with their faculty members to identify and prioritize those laboratories that should be reopened for research. The college has begun working with the Office of Physical Plant and other units to ensure that services in required buildings can be restored in a timely manner.

In next steps, individual researchers will initiate, via a college system, requests for specific people to be granted access to laboratories, and will provide supporting information regarding occupancy and special COVID-related procedures. Departments, and then the college, will review, amend as necessary, and approve these requests. Our goal is to get our researchers back in the labs as safely and as quickly as possible.

Science Magazine: Reducing Transmission

An article shared by Douglas Cavener, dean of the Eberly College of Science, offers several important findings related to COVID-19 transmission including the fact that it’s almost certainly being spread by aerosols that accumulate and remain airborne in enclosed spaces for several minutes, making 6-foot social distancing insufficient indoors; that face masks are an effective means of reducing viral transmission via exhaled/inhaled aerosols; and that wearing face masks combined with testing and isolating COVID-19 positive individuals have been highly effective in reducing cases in countries that aggressively utilized this strategy. I encourage you to read the article.

Unemployment Compensation Scam

The Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) has reported a new Unemployment Compensation (UC) scam. Residents of Pennsylvania may have received Pandemic UC checks in the mail without having filed for UC benefits. Some Penn State employees have reported receiving these paper checks when they have not filed for UC benefits and are actively working. If you received a check for which you did not file a UC claim, immediately inform your HRSP/HRC and contact the Department of L&I. More information regarding the scam, including contact information for the Department of L&I, may be found on the UC website.

Nominate a Faculty Member

The Lawrence J. Perez Memorial Student Advocate Award recognizes a College of Engineering faculty member who contributes to the welfare of students and enriches the college by his or her willingness to devote significant time and effort to assist students academically and/or personally as they pursue their engineering degrees. All full-time College of Engineering Faculty members may receive this award no more than once every four years. To nominate a faculty member by the July 1 deadline, submit an essay between 500 and 1,500 words to Michelle Schafer, director of alumni relations and events, at mls61@psu.edu. A list of past recipients is available online.

Remote Teaching Tip #12 – Hold regular office hours via Zoom

Providing a virtual opportunity for your students to meet with you individually can help create a connection, just like it does in a residential setting. Faculty in the college have reported more attendance in virtual office hours than they previously experienced in person when students were on campus. And several plan to continue the practice even when face to face classes resume! For more tips about teaching online, contact the Office for Digital Learning.

Be well!

Justin Schwartz
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean, College of Engineering