Dear Liberal Arts Undergraduates:
I hope this message finds you well as you begin your last week of spring semester classes. It’s incredible to me that we have reached that point of the semester already—the beginning of 2020 has certainly been a whirlwind, yet in so many ways the world and our lives have come to a screeching halt. I continue to be grateful for your perseverance in adapting to a remote learning environment these past few weeks.
A few noteworthy items for everyone to consider, including a few for our graduating seniors:
- A reminder that Penn State will host a virtual commencement celebration (https://spring2020.commencement.psu.edu/) at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 9. Additional details about the event will be forthcoming in the next week or so. Also, please keep in mind that Penn State and the college have every intention of hosting some sort of on-campus commencement celebration for our graduating seniors when it is safe and appropriate to do so; the May 9 celebration is simply our way of honoring you on what would have been commencement weekend under ordinary circumstances.
- If you are having your own celebration the weekend of May 9, please use the hashtags #PSUgrad and #PSULiberalArtsGrad on any photos that you upload to social media so we can share them as well. Also, be sure to check out the well wishes being conveyed by faculty, staff, and alumni to the Class of 2020 on the college’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/PennStateLiberalArts) , Twitter (https://twitter.com/PSULiberalArts) , and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pennstateliberalarts/) pages.
- I also ask that graduating seniors take five minutes to complete the Senior Survey (https://bit.ly/SP1920PostGrad) . Doing so gives us valuable feedback on your undergraduate experience as well as your current or future career plans.
- Penn State Alumni Career Services will host a “senior week” virtual panel discussion titled Advice to the Class of 2020 from the Class of 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday (April 28). Who better to give advice and answer questions from graduating seniors about entering the working world during a turbulent time than those who experienced a similar situation during the Great Recession? Click here (https://engage.tassl.com/event/7580/) to register.
- Speaking of virtual panel discussions, I hope those who joined last week’s discussion hosted by our Career Enrichment Network titled Now What: Navigating the Uncertainty of COVID-19 found it to be interesting and helpful. For those who could not attend, a recording of the discussion is now available on the college’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfaezkzWgSA).
- Last but not least, please remember that you can schedule virtual career coaching appointments with our Career Enrichment Network staff anytime through Nittany Lion Careers. When scheduling the appointment, be sure to: 1) select a career coach with ‘(Liberal Arts)’ next to that individual’s name; and, 2) select “virtual” for the type of appointment.
I hope the last week of classes goes as well as possible, and I hope that you find some time during the week to unplug, relax, and catch your breath. I will check in again next week during finals; until then, be well, be safe, be smart, and be careful!
Sincerely,
Dean Lang