Smeal Update: July 10, 2020
Smeal News
Zietsma selected as 2019-20 Faculty RISE Above Award recipient
- Charlene Zietsma, associate professor of management and organization and a Dean’s Research Fellow, has been selected as the 2019-20 academic year recipient of the Faculty RISE Above Award. Congratulations, Charlene!
Finance office asks for patience as SIMBA goes live
- As Penn State personnel who work with finances adjust to the new SIMBA system, the Finance office asks for patience from the Smeal community. If you need information about SIMBA, https://www.simba.psu.edu/ should be your first resource.
Honor & Integrity Zoom background available
- Research has shown that even subtle references can influence behavior. With that thought in mind, Michelle Darnell worked with our Marketing and Public Relations team and the RIIT Group to produce an Honor & Integrity Zoom background. You are encouraged to use the background as a subtle reminder that we take our commitments to honor and integrity seriously. The background can be found here.
Smeal continues to contribute to MASC initiatives
- A Penn State Health team, aided by contributions from Smeal’s Sue Purdum and Steve Tracey, is finalizing details of a $20 million grant to support nursing homes in southcentral Pennsylvania. Smeal will help with supply chain management and executive education elements of the initiative.
Updates from Penn State
Faculty leading health and safety plans for return to campus
Preparations are well underway to help mitigate risks for students, faculty, and staff as Penn State returns to classrooms and labs this fall, including implementation of new guidance for instruction. To learn more about the efforts in this area by the University’s Public Health and Science Task Group, view this informational video featuring Dennis Scanlon, Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Administration and director of the Center for Health Care and Policy Research, and Matt Ferrari, associate professor of biology in Penn State’s Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics.
Faculty FAQs
Will Penn State adjust its approach to teaching and learning in Fall 2020 if COVID-19 infections increase or spread?
The University is concerned about recent trends and continuously monitoring state and national disease data and following guidance from state and local health officials. Based on that guidance, and in consultation with faculty experts in epidemiology, medicine and public health, the University is prepared to adjust its approach as necessary, including the possibility that Penn State would need to shift the semester to a fully remote learning environment.
The University and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf have stressed the importance of following guidelines to protect community health and minimize the spread of the virus, and cautioned that lax behaviors could undo progress toward reopening campuses.
The answer to this question and others regarding the University's responses to the pandemic and planning for the fall semester can be found in the "Latest Updates" section of Penn State's comprehensive FAQ. This page will be updated regularly with new or significantly revised questions and answers for students, faculty, staff, and the community. Also, monitor the “Back to State” and “Latest News” pages for more information.
What resources are available to help faculty use the mode(s) of instruction they have chosen to deliver their course(s)?
A wide range of resources have been added to keepteaching.psu.edu for each of the four modes of instruction. Visit the webpages dedicated to in-person instruction, mixed-mode instruction, remote synchronous instruction, and remote asynchronous instruction to learn more about these on-demand, collaborative, and online resources