Dean's Community Message

October 13, 2020

Dear College of Engineering Community,

As we approach the upcoming election, please note there are a few very important deadlines coming in the next two weeks. The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania is Monday, Oct. 19, and the deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania is Tuesday, Oct. 27. Please note that students have until Monday, Oct. 19, to change their registration to a campus address if they wish to do so. More voting guidance for students can be found in the attached documents and on the Penn State Student Voting Guide website.

Today’s inspirational quote was submitted by Christine Masters, assistant dean for academic support and global programs:

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
—C.S. Lewis

Here are today’s updates:

Upcoming University Q&A Session: Oct. 15

President Barron will be joined by Kelly Wolgast, director of the COVID-19 Operations Control Center, for a live webinar on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 4:00 p.m. The discussion will focus on the University’s ongoing response to the pandemic and other related topics. More information can be found here.

Reminder: COVID-19 Emergency Funding for Students Available

As a reminder, emergency funding for students is still available for those affected by COVID-19. To apply for funding through the CARES Act, eligible students who did not receive a grant during the first round can visit studentaid.psu.edu/pubThemeAppsWa/CaresApp. Those who are not eligible have the option to explore the Penn State Student Emergency Fund in cases of emergency need. More information for students who need loaner technology, such as laptops or mobile hotspots, can be found here.

President Barron’s Message: Game Day Safety

As we approach the first football game of this fall sports season, I want to reiterate President Barron’s message that was shared last night. It is vital that we follow the safety protocols noted in President Barron’s message. As noted, there will be no fans in or around the stadium and all Penn State parking lots will be closed. Tailgating is not permitted anywhere on campus. Please continue to limit gatherings and wear your masks. President Barron’s full community message is available here.

Teaching Tip #49 – Moving between Zoom breakout rooms

Meeting co-hosts can move between breakout rooms in Zoom. They must first be allocated to and join a breakout room before they will have the ability to move between rooms. See these step-by-step instructions for more details.

Take care!

Justin Schwartz
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean, College of Engineering