Dean's Community Message

October 6, 2020

Dear College of Engineering Community,

The election is 28 days away. Remember, it is a civic responsibility for U.S. citizens to vote. Details on how to vote by mail, including information for people from every state, can be found on the Penn State PILOT Lab 50-State Resource for Absentee and Mail-In Ballots website. More voting information for students is available here. Voters registered in Centre County can request and cast an absentee or mail-in ballot at the Satellite Elections Office established at the Bryce Jordan Center starting tomorrow and running through Oct. 24. Appointments must be scheduled in advance. More information is available here.

Today’s quote is one of personal significance to me:

“When avoiding tasks or making decisions, remember to have courage. When you get bogged down in details, remember your vision. When you need direction, remember your values.”
Credit: Becoming Leaders: A Practical Handbook for Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology, F. Mary Williams, Ph.D., and Carolyn J. Emerson

Here are today’s updates:

University Announces Spring 2021 Plans

To continue COVID-19 mitigation, the spring 2021 semester will begin a week later than originally planned on Jan. 18. No classes will be held that day in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but there will be a number of virtual events to honor Dr. King and his work. Spring break is cancelled to avoid transmission via travel, and classes will conclude instruction on April 30. More details are available here.

New Surveillance Testing Sites

Three new COVID-19 surveillance testing sites will be open for Penn State employees and students on the University Park campus starting on Oct. 7: Beaver Stadium Nittany Lion Club, Hintz Family Alumni Center, and Pegula Ice Arena. These indoor locations replace previous testing locations and expand services to include employee-only hours. If you are selected for surveillance testing, you should follow the instructions in the selection email. Click here for more details on the new sites and hours.

Students and Families Town Hall Recap

The University hosted a Town Hall for students and their families on Oct. 4. The discussion focused on the University’s response to COVID-19 and plans for the future. The summary story may be found here. The recording will be available for viewing here shortly. Individuals who watched the event live are encouraged to fill out this anonymous survey.

Teaching Tip #47 – Guidance for Teaching Virtual Labs

Penn State Environmental Health and Safety has provided guidance for faculty who would like to conduct lab teaching demonstrations from home. This document also includes a list of approved home lab kits for students as well as describes how to have additional lab kits approved for student use.

Be well!

Justin Schwartz
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean, College of Engineering