Dean's Community Message

Friday, December 4

Dear College of Engineering Community,

On Tuesday, I invited you to share your reflections about the fall 2020 semester and lessons learned. Lori Rhoades, administrative support coordinator in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, offered multiple lessons, including this one:

No one is an island: Remote work while convenient is isolating if we don’t find other ways to connect. I started daily yoga with my sisters using a snap chat call and our Amazon Prime video service. I also created connections with senior family members on the What’s App so we could be “face to face” periodically. These connections have reminded me of the critical importance of collaboration. We all do better as a team.

Thank you so much for sharing, Lori! For others in our community, please keep the lessons coming at dean@engr.psu.edu. Here are today’s updates:

Travel Considerations: Postdoctoral Fellows and Scholars

Postdoctoral scholars and fellows who leave the country during the current remote period or during the holiday break must ensure that they can return by the beginning of the spring semester, January 18, 2021. Those who travel abroad during this period may encounter delays in returning either due to immigration issues or to pandemic-related lockdowns/border restrictions. Those who are unable to return will be placed on unpaid leave, which may jeopardize an international scholar’s visa/immigration status and result in the appointment being terminated. If you absolutely must travel abroad, please review the requirements of both your airline and your destination country with regard to COVID testing and quarantining. If you have questions about your immigration status, please contact Penn State Global Programs. If you do travel and are unable to return before the spring semester, notify your supervisor and Engineering Human Resources.

Seeking Comments/Questions: Draft Reports on Racism, Bias, Community Safety

I encourage members of the Engineering community to provide comments and questions related to the newly released draft reports of the Select Penn State Presidential Commission on Racism, Bias, and Community Safety, and the Student Code of Conduct Task Force. The co-chairs of both groups and President Barron will receive all submissions — which can be made anonymously — to the online form and will consider these submissions in shaping the discussion for the virtual town hall event scheduled for 10 to 11 a.m. on Dec. 9. The town hall will be streamed live and archived for later viewing. Within Engineering, we are also working to develop our own Equity Action Plan for the college.

Reminder: Walk-Up Virus Testing Availability

Walk-up testing at University Park will be available at the Hintz Family Alumni Center for students and for employees listed in the Return to Work database from noon to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays through Jan. 18. At Penn State Altoona, Behrend and Harrisburg, walk-up testing will also be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays through Jan. 18, with hours and locations varying by campus. Voluntary opt-in testing via a Vault Health mail-in kit is available for students at all other Penn State campuses, and for campus employees in the Return to Work database.

Reminder: Student Classroom Availability

For University Park students who were unable to return home for the remote learning period, general purpose classrooms in Boucke, Hammond, Osmond, Thomas, and Willard buildings will be open for access through the end of final exams. The University Park campus map shows these locations in the Remote Learning Rooms list. Classrooms are also available at Commonwealth Campuses, with more information available on the Penn State Go mobile app or via campus websites.

Teaching Tip #62 – Request Tech TAs for Spring 2021 Classes

Tech TAs serve as Zoom assistants during the synchronous portion of an online class. Their work can include a consultation before class to review Zoom meeting settings, and in-class support like helping with audio or video issues, moderating the chat, polling, setting up and monitoring breakout rooms, and sharing whiteboards. If you would like to request a Tech TA for Spring 2021, see the Tech Tutors website.

Have a great weekend!

Justin Schwartz
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean, College of Engineering