Dear engineering students:
I hope this message finds each of you healthy and safe.
Earlier this week, you received communication from UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank outlining additional changes to campus operations based on new state and national guidelines established to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
One notable shift is that all engineering buildings are now closed to all students. For health and safety reasons, I ask that you do not attempt to enter engineering buildings. I understand the inconvenience this causes and I hope you understand why that action had to be taken.
Our campus will provide alternate delivery of courses from March 23 through the end of the spring semester, including final exams. If they have not done so already, your instructors will be contacting you with information about your courses. Although the method of delivery is different, what remains unchanged is that we care deeply about your education and educational experience. I want you to know that when your spring break concludes at the end of the week, even though many of you may not return to Madison, the College of Engineering is ready to deliver your education as our semester resumes on Monday.
You likely have many questions related to all aspects of your experience as UW-Madison students, and as engineering students, and we have developed an FAQ page — https://go.wisc.edu/engr-student-faq — where you will find answers and resources. We will be updating the FAQ regularly, so please refer to it often, and don’t hesitate to contact us at coeadvising@engr.wisc.edu. Additionally, please monitor the UW-Madison response page, https://covid19.wisc.edu and https://covid19.wisc.edu/for-students/for information and updates. Finally, please make sure you turn on your notifications in your canvas course pages as your instructor will be communicating with you via canvas.
I want to underscore that COVID-19 is not specific to an ethnicity or race, and if you experience harassment or discrimination, please report it by filing a bias incident report.
I know this is not the semester any of us anticipated, but we are problem-solvers. We embrace challenges. We innovate. We inspire positive change. We are engineers.
Continue to observe recommended practices for keeping yourself and others healthy. Frequently wash your hands (for at least 20 seconds), use hand sanitizer, sneeze/cough into your elbow, and follow other guidance from UHS. Also, practice social distancing; see these tips from Public Health Madison & Dane County.
If you are feeling ill or anxious, please reach out to the health or mental health resources available here on campus or in your area. All UW-Madison students have access to SilverCloud, a no-cost cognitive behavioral health resource available 24/7. You also can call the UHS Mental Health Crisis Line 24/7 at (608) 265-5600 (option 2).
Stay well.
Ian Robertson, Grainger Dean of the College of Engineering