Welcome from Academic Affairs
Date: 8/24/2021
From: Provost - Vice President for Academic Affairs
Subject: Welcome from Academic Affairs
Dear Campus Community,
On behalf of the Division of Academic Affairs, I am pleased to welcome our students, faculty and staff to the fall semester and the start of another academic year.
I recognize that the return to campus can be both exciting and anxious for our Bronco community. Understandably, the exhilaration of connecting with friends and colleagues continues to be tempered by concerns about safety and wellness. The university has planned carefully for this moment so that we can oblige this broad gamut of experiences. For Academic Affairs, this has meant maximizing options for instruction modes in a way that meets the needs of our students while keeping our entire community safe. As President Coley noted in her State of the University address at Convocation last week, this semester will be a transition period as we return to campus. To that end, we will continue to prioritize flexibility in all our efforts. I also want to reaffirm that we will not change the modality of any courses mid-semester. I ask that faculty accommodate students when health concerns arise, and I ask that both faculty and students commit to the modality of their courses. We offer exemplary academic programs that reflect our inclusive polytechnic identity. Let us not lose sight of the importance of “learn by doing.”
We have all learned and implemented much over the past year and a half. Academic Affairs has collaborated with all divisions to make the fall semester transition possible. We are prepared to offer our full range of support and resources to our campus constituencies even as we continue our transition to being fully back on campus. As we work together in support of our academic mission, I hope that each of you will take full advantage of the resources available to you as faculty, staff, or students.
Above all, we must continue to embody patience and a sense of grace in all we do. Times of great challenge, such as these, threaten to wear thin the fabric that holds us together. We must be purposeful in supporting one another and living up to our individual responsibilities of keeping each other safe and well. Please make a difference by regularly visiting the Safer Return website and familiarizing yourself with our comprehensive approach to campus safety. Also, please join the safer return team for a weekly, Thursday at noon, town hall webinar to get the latest news.
I know that I have enjoyed walking around campus, while masked, connecting with students, colleagues, and friends. There is a wonderful energy on the campus, and I invite you to safely join me in the safe return to Cal Poly Pomona.
I wish you all a safe, healthy, and successful semester. Go Broncos!
Sincerely,
Iris S. Levine, DMA
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs