A Message from the Dean: March 2020
Dear CASL Community,
The COVID-19 pandemic is completely upending the traditional academic year as well as the way that we conduct our business: all instruction is now being offered remotely; college staff are working from home; all campus events, including Commencement, are postponed; and the buildings that house the college faculty and programs are locked and deserted with no end in sight. Indeed, as I write, summer courses are also moving into the digital format and the energy and excitement that normally characterizes our campus this time of year will remain a mere memory. The pace of the change wrought by this pandemic has been incredibly unnerving and unrelenting.
Yet, in spite of all of this tumult and chaos, CASL continues to shine and to represent the very best of this university. Our students have bravely plunged into their new learning reality and the faculty and staff have gone to tremendous lengths to ensure that our students’ education continues as seamlessly as possible. I am so very proud of the way that this community has pulled together—faculty colleagues helping those who are new to the virtual classroom with planning their now remote courses, staff putting aside their own concerns to ensure continuity of operations for the college, our science faculty working on how to convert active learning labs into a digital environment, and everyone encouraging and supporting each other.
As is often the case in an emergency, our current situation is bringing our already cohesive community even closer and, as a result, we will emerge even stronger than we were when this all began. On behalf of our students and my fellow alumni, I want to thank you all for your dedication and effort. While what lies ahead will continue to be challenging, I am certain that we can, working together, overcome any obstacle we face.
- Martin Hershock, Dean