A Message from the Dean
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ur students’ steadfastness in the face of unprecedented circumstances affecting their learning environment bore fruit in the form of a Rhodes Scholarship, significant student research outcomes, and impactful community-building collaborative events within Education City and beyond, and raised awareness about key topics around racial equity, global events, and the impact of the coronavirus.
Resilience, and a sustained effort to draw from our diverse strengths to achieve excellence were the key themes of the year.
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The determination of faculty and staff to sustain students and advance the teaching and research missions of the university despite the pandemic resulted in a number of innovations in student support systems. These included flexible format internships with community partners and other virtual experiential learning opportunities, as well as extra programming during breaks. Club activities, the First Year Experience program, and Leadership Track activities, along with a solid foundation of library and Writing Center support, health and wellness activities, and tutoring, resulted in a comprehensive learning experience for students—whether they were in the classroom or attended class online. Beyond this, preparations for further improvements in the campus environment resulted in the peer tutor program earning College Reading and Learning Association’s (CRLA) International Tutor Training Program Certification, the launch of a student Campus Climate Survey, and the establishment of a Racial Equity Task Force.
