Dear ChemE Community,
The past week has been difficult on everyone—academically, professionally and personally—as the world responds to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Keeping our community informed and safe are our top priorities as faculty and staff continue to work with our colleagues across the University to address the unprecedented challenges this situation continues to present.
I know there are many questions regarding your classes, research and exams. Please continue to monitor your email for updates from the Department, Faculty and University as new decisions, processes and procedures are updated and new developments continue to unfold. Please refer to the University’s website for the most up-to-date, detailed and authoritative information available. The Dean’s Office is also updating resources daily to keep you as informed as possible as decisions are being made.
I am truly inspired by the actions that our faculty, staff, students and alumni are taking during this challenging and stressful time. Examples include practicing ‘social distancing’ and ‘self-isolation,’ developing innovative ways to build community, adapting and using on-line learning methods, ensuring our basic infrastructure remains functional and that our research and labs are shutdown safely. I am also very encouraged by how members of our community are actively exploring ways of utilizing our Department’s facilities and intellectual resources to integrate chemistry, biology and engineering to help solve this global challenge in partnership with others across the University.
I want to thank all of you for your patience, your resilience, your understanding, and for the support you continue to offer each other and our community during this uncertain time. I have every confidence that together we will be able to manage this situation. Please remember to take care of yourselves and those around you.
Grant Allen
Chair, Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry