COSAM News Articles 2020 April Message from Dean Giordano - April 7, 2020

Message from Dean Giordano - April 7, 2020

Published: 04/06/2020

Dear COSAM Alumni and Friends,

First and foremost, l hope you and your family are healthy and safe. As you can imagine, this spring on “The Plains” is like no other.

On March 16, Auburn University transitioned to on-line instruction and remote work for most of our faculty and staff. Our beautiful, blooming campus is filled with the reminders of spring, but is silent. However, our mission of Instruction, Research and Outreach remains, and we have worked hard to ensure that our important work continues.

Our faculty and students pivoted from a classroom to on-line instruction. All spring classes are now being taught online. As you can imagine, this was a huge change, but our faculty and students have responded with incredible energy and patience.

Many Auburn faculty and staff are now working from home at least part of the time, but the core functions of the university continue.

Our faculty and advisors are providing guidance to our students via ZOOM meetings. We have tutoring available for those in need of extra assistance, and are conducting virtual tours for prospective students as we prepare for the summer and fall semesters. Research continues, with special attention to social distancing.

To support local healthcare providers during this COVID-19 emergency, the college donated our supply of personal protective equipment, including face masks, face shields, aprons, goggles and Tyvek suits, to nearby East Alabama Medical Center. With so many of our alumni on the front-lines of this battle, we are humbled to help in this way.

Although not able to visit in person, our Office of Development is reaching out in new ways to maintain the relationships with our alumni and friends that are so important and essential to the success of the College of Sciences and Mathematics.

As members of the Auburn Family who believe in the “human touch,” these are particularly difficult times. However, please know that we are together in spirit and look forward to seeing you when things begin to return to normal.

Stay safe and War Eagle!

Nick Giordano

PS I have gotten many emails asking about how Auburn University is handling various issues. COSAM has set up a special web site with the latest messages from the President, Provost, and me. This URL https://www.auburn.edu/cosam/about/coronavirus.htm is a good place to get accurate information.