Dean's Community Message

December 8, 2020

Dear College of Engineering Community,

We’ve made it to the last week of classes! At the beginning of this semester, we faced a great many unknowns, some of which persist. The one thing I was also sure about, though, was you—the students, faculty, and staff working so hard to make this semester not only possible, but also productive.

As we wrap up classes and move into finals, remember how much of this semester appeared to be unmanageable at the start. Yet, we’ve managed and more.

“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, ‘I’m possible.’”
—Audrey Hepburn

Also, please plan to attend the University’s virtual town hall from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. tomorrow (Dec. 9) if possible. President Barron, and the co-chairs of both the Select Penn State Presidential Commission on Racism, Bias, and Community Safety, and the Student Code of Conduct Task Force will discuss the newly released draft reports on racism, bias, and community safety at Penn State. The event will be streamed live and archived for later viewing.

Here are today’s updates:

Alternative Grading Update

The University has updated the alternative grading guidelines for undergraduate students on the Keep Learning website. Starting Dec. 23, students can select alternative grades for each course, and they must finalize all selections by Jan. 12, 2021. Pre-major students should pay particular attention to new alternative grade restrictions related to Entrance to Major into enrollment controlled programs. All students are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic adviser before the university closes for the winter break on Dec. 23 or after the university resumes operations on Jan. 4 regarding their decisions about alternative grades.

Virtual De-Stress Fest

Penn State University Libraries are hosting an online De-Stress Fest through Dec. 18. From virtual escape rooms and knitting lessons to coloring pages and yoga and more, take a look through the curated list of relaxation activities.

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 #63 – Requiring Webcams for Exams

To protect the integrity of exams and other assessments, instructors may require students to turn on their webcams in order to monitor the assessment; however, instructors must notify all students in the class of their intent to record the assessment via a written announcement at least 5 days in advance. Instructors must remind students that the assessment will be recorded before any recording takes place. Students should find a location in which they can access a webcam. If that is not possible, students should request an adjustment within 48 hours of the change announced by the instructor to monitor assessment. Instructors should take into consideration the facts and circumstances surrounding a student’s request and determine whether it is appropriate to grant the request. In such cases, instructors should work with the student to provide an alternate assessment. Screen sharing can also be an option to monitor student work if students are in separate Zoom rooms.

Be well!

Justin Schwartz
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean, College of Engineering