March 16, 2020

Dear members of the Hajim School community,

Much of what we do as engineers and computer scientists at the Hajim School involves solving problems. And we do that extremely well. So, I am confident we will successfully meet the challenge of completing the semester through remote instruction, and thereby reduce the possibility that our students, staff, and faculty might be exposed to Coronavirus.

If you have not done so already, please read carefully the University’s announcement explaining the need for undergraduates to complete the semester at their homes, and for all instruction — even for graduate students who remain on campus — to be conducted online. The announcement includes instructions for preparing for remote teaching, learning, and working, and for transitioning traditional courses to online courses.

I want to assure our students on these key points:

We will do everything in our power to keep you on track academically. Your road to graduation need not be adversely affected. For example, seniors in our ABET (Engineering Accreditation Commission) majors will still be able to complete their senior design requirements. Faculty and representatives from all the Hajim senior design classes have been meeting to discuss ways to conduct the classes and projects so they will provide our students with the skills they need, meet the requirements of our accreditation agency, and, above all, give our students a sense of accomplishment.

We will be working hard over the next several days to provide you with additional information and answers to your questions. We are still working through many issues. In the meantime, click here for all the latest updates.

I want to thank our faculty and staff members and our IT and student support partners for the hard work they have already done to pave the way for this transition. I am especially impressed with the creative ideas our faculty are coming up with to conduct classes, labs, and projects online. For example, students may not be physically present to conduct an experiment in one of our labs, but they can design the protocol, watch online as a grad student or faculty member actually conducts the experiment, and then analyze the results.

I think this is going to be a good learning experience for all of us. We’re going to discover new ways to take advantage of digital learning and digital interactions that will help us teach and conduct our business more effectively long after the Coronavirus has run its course.

Though many traditions will be suspended this semester, others will continue. Our annual Art of Science Competition, for example, will now accept submissions until April 15, with winners to be announced online.

The hardest part is that it will not be possible to have all of us together on the campus we love, enjoying the camaraderie of students working together in the labs, study groups, and on senior projects. That teamwork has always been integral to our work as engineers and computer scientists.

But that is also our greatest strength in dealing with the unprecedented situation that now confronts us. Working together we will meet the challenge. And demonstrate just how creative we can be.

Above all, wherever you are, heed the health advisories regarding Coronavirus. Please err on the side of safety — for your own sake and for the sake of those around you!

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman

Please note, as we use a number of different communication modes to reach all of the University’s constituents over the next few weeks, Hajim Highlights may be interrupted at times.  Please know that we are working hard to streamline communication to get timely information out, and we ask that you read all communications that are sent during this time. We will return to regular weekly transmission of Hajim Highlights as soon as possible.