Posted: March 25, 2020

Resources that are available to you.

Dear student,

I hope that you and your family and friends are all in good health as our global community comes together to face today's challenges. I know that the circumstances at times seem ever-changing, but one thing remains steady—and that is our College's commitment to your success as a student.

With that in mind, I wanted to take a moment to reinforce the resources that are available to you. This is a time to persevere with your academic and career goals, and so I encourage you to leverage the tools and people available. We are here for you.

First and foremost, be sure to visit, below, the official Penn State websites related to the coronavirus outbreak. These sites offer a wealth of information and guidance and should serve as a first stop for answers to many questions.

Updates for the Penn State community
psu.edu/virusinfo

Student, employee, and community frequently asked questions; includes topics like academics, housing, campus events, study abroad  
psu.edu/virusinfo/faqs

Help with transitioning from the classroom to remote learning
remotelearning.psu.edu

As always, your adviser and instructors are your primary sources for information and assistance related to your academic progress. They are communicating directly through Canvas and email with information and expectations for how courses will run remotely and how to access materials. It is critical that you monitor these communication channels regularly. Reach out to them with questions about your courses, upcoming registration for the fall semester, and other academic topics. Please be patient, too, as we are all in this together and dealing with unprecedented and unexpected changes in how we conduct our important work.

As we approach the end of spring semester, I want to send a heartfelt acknowledgement of our graduating seniors. Your time here on campus is one that we all cherish, and we know the postponement of spring commencement ceremonies is very disappointing. Despite the physical separation we are all experiencing, know that the Penn State community is strong, and your transition from student to alum remains a significant moment filled with pride. The University and College are exploring ways to appropriately celebrate your achievements, and details will be shared soon. As you look beyond graduation, know that career services remain available to you through both the College (agsci.psu.edu/careers) and Penn State (nittanylioncareers.psu.edu).

Naturally, we all miss the hustle and bustle of campus life. Together, though, we can keep the conversations, innovation, learning, and sense of community alive. We can do our best to be active participants in our circles, whether that's our online classes, video meetings and chats, virtual gatherings by our clubs, social media outlets, or other spaces. Please also be sure to take a moment to read AgSci Student News when it hits your email inbox.

Of course, our primary, overriding concern is your health. Please use precaution to take good care of yourself and to help ensure the well-being of those around you. And know that your Penn State family is here to encourage you and support your continued academic success.

Warm regards,

Tracy Hoover

Tracy Hoover
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences

Email: agsci@psu.edu
Office for Undergraduate Education contacts:
https://agsci.psu.edu/students/contact