Dean's Community Message

June 15, 2020

Dear College of Engineering Community,

As you know, last evening the University shared its Back to State plans for the fall semester. Related to this important announcement, a comprehensive list of FAQs has been posted to Penn State’s virus info website and two virtual town halls will be held on Monday, June 22: one for faculty and staff from 2 to 3 p.m. and one for students and families from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The town halls will be streamed online and questions can be submitted anonymously via forms for faculty and staff and students and families. I encourage all of you to participate as you are able.

Within the College of Engineering, we are working to put processes and corresponding resources in place to facilitate our community’s transition back to on-campus residential instruction, work, and other activities in a limited fashion. We will be involving members from across our community in planning and will provide regular updates in the days and weeks ahead as we advance toward the start of the fall semester on August 24.

In the meantime, I’d like to invite all members of our community — students, faculty, and staff — if you have questions about aspects of yesterday’s announcement, please submit them for discussion during the University’s forthcoming town halls. Additionally, please send questions to our response team email at L-COE_CORONA_CRISIS_TEAM@engr.psu.edu and we will work to provide answers and updates.

Here are two additional updates for today:

Town Halls: Instructional Challenges and Opportunities in FA20

The Leonhard Center and the Office for Digital Learning will host a pair of virtual town halls this week to help develop plans to assist engineering faculty in preparing for the fall semester. Learn more in the attached handout. Pre-registration is required.

  • Theory/Analysis Courses: Instructional Challenges & Opportunities in FA20
    Wednesday, June 17, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
    Register
  • Hands-on Courses (Labs/Design Courses): Instructional Challenges & Opportunities in FA20
    Friday, June 19, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
    Register

Return to on-Campus Research Update

The college has received the first round of space re-occupancy approvals from the Office of Physical Plant, effective today. This morning, more than 80 labs which have completed all other preparations were approved for on-campus research activity, with email notifications sent to all personnel. This is separate from labs and personnel previously approved for essential research activity. Over 110 personnel acknowledgments have been completed in the Engineering Campus Activity Tracker (ECAT) so far. Additionally, the COE R2R Training is now available in a 30 min video reviewing COE guidance and the approval process for on-campus research activity, a campus visit walkthrough demonstration, and PSU EHS guidance for working safely on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Best regards,

Justin Schwartz
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean, College of Engineering