Dean's Community Message

April 30, 2021

Dear College of Engineering Community,

Congratulations — you’ve reached the last day of classes! I hope you’ve enjoyed the semester, and you now know more than when you started. I wish you the best of luck during your finals next week.

As this semester ends, we continue planning for fall. On Tuesday, Penn State announced guidance for transitioning all staff back to campus by Aug. 16 and faculty by Aug. 23 to provide in-person instruction. We’ve had several inquiries about how the transition will be handled in the College of Engineering, and we are working through the newly available information. We are also taking the results of the recent college survey under consideration as we develop our plans, focused on two main areas:

  1. A formalized exemption request process for those who may be unable to return to campus this fall due to personal or health-related reasons. I expect that this process will include the ability to request a “hybrid option” as well.
  2. Workspace arrangements that account for physical distancing, as well as cleaning protocols.

As you are all well aware, this is a complicated situation. Please be assured that we are doing everything in our power to provide a safe, productive environment for all members of our community, and that our processes will be thoughtful and caring. As President Barron said, “The ultimate goal is for Penn State faculty and staff to safely return to provide that on-campus experience our students seek.”

We don’t have all the answers yet, but we anticipate sharing a path forward in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please email me with your questions at dean@engr.psu.edu.

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.”
—Franklin Delano Roosevelt, prepared but undelivered remarks, April 1945

Here are today’s updates:


Incidents of Bias and Hate

There has been an increase in reported incidents of bias and hate against Black and Asian members of the Penn State community. This racially motivated discrimination is horrific and cannot be tolerated. We must work together to build a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all. To those who have suffered or feared such discriminatory interactions, I stand with you. You are an important part of the college and the University, and I welcome you to email me with your concerns at dean@engr.psu.edu. You can also contact the Center for Engineering Outreach and Inclusion for support. I also encourage those who wish to become better allies to read through the center’s website, with a specific focus on their aggregated equity and inclusion resources.

Please remember that such incidents can be reported directly to the University. Counseling and Psychological Services is also offering therapy resources to racially minoritized students, as well as a drop-in clinic run by the Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling and Special Education.


Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Tomorrow launches Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of Americans from or with heritage from countries in Asia and the Pacific islands. Several national agencies collaboratively assembled a collection of stories, art, and events centered on Asian and Pacific Americans, available here. At 7:00 p.m. on May 17, our local community members will host a panel titled, “Powerful Voices: Asian Americans in Centre County Speak Out.” You can register here.


Vaccination Clinics

  • Ongoing: Bryce Jordan Center: Noon to 8:00 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Open to all individuals aged 18 years or older, regardless of county of residence and including students from out of state. Appointments encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. More information is available here.
  • May 1 and 5: Centre Volunteers in Medicine Vaccine Clinics: Centre Volunteers in Medicine has spots available for their May 1 and May 5 clinics. Anyone aged 16 years or older may sign up. More details are available here.

Upload Vaccination Records to myUHS

Students are strongly encouraged to upload their COVID-19 vaccine records to myUHS. By providing the information, fully immunized students may potentially be exempt from certain health and safety protocols, such as quarantine. More information is available here.


Remain Diligent about Upholding Academic Integrity

Students: Remember it is always important to complete your work with integrity. For resources related to academic integrity, please visit the Keep Learning website.

Instructors: Remember to communicate your expectation to students clearly and directly, especially when it comes to what they should and should not access while completing their final exams and projects. For resources related to upholding integrity, please visit the Keep Teaching website.


Alternative Grade Processes Available Starting May 12

For the spring 2021 semester, optional alternative grading is available for undergraduate students, as well as an exception process for graduate students. All students are strongly encouraged to speak with their academic advisers as they consider using alternative grades, and to carefully consider the potential long-term implications of a such a decision. More information is available here. Also, be aware that you will not be able to elect alternative grading for the course in which an academic integrity violation occurred if you are found responsible.


Upcoming Deadlines

  • April 30 – Next Gen Penn State Survey: The deadline for Penn Staters to provide feedback on the characteristics, priorities, and goals of Penn State’s new president through the Next Gen Penn State Survey was extended through today. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. More information is available here.
  • May 6 – Alumni Trustees Election: The deadline for Penn State alumni to vote in the 2021 trustees election is 9:00 a.m. ET on May 6. More information is available here.

Teaching Tip #89: Use of Webcams to Monitor Assessments

As a reminder, to protect the integrity of exams and other assessments, faculty may require students to turn on their webcams in order to monitor the assessment. For more details, see the Use of Webcams for Assessments on the Keep Teaching site.


Here’s hoping this week’s April showers will bring May flowers this weekend!

Justin Schwartz
Harold and Inge Marcus Dean, College of Engineering