Newsletter March 2020
President’s Message
Acienit id quatust ibustrum esequi dem velles pro te que nis niA week or so before the beginning of spring break, Governor Tom Wolf visited maxim illaborae in et resectat et campus to promote a scholarship es as endus que esti ut omnien- and meet students. As faculty, we had just met the threshold of a minimum of 200 new retirees necessary for an early retirement FINISH READING ON PG. 2 market was cruising along at or near record incentive to go into effect. The stock levels. Now, a week or so after spring break, there is only one thing on most people's minds: the coronavirus. Our students have been sent home, as have we. The stock market has dropped precipitously. People around the world, and, increasingly, in our own area, have become ill with or have died from COVID-19. These are truly frightening times. At the same time, I feel optimistic about our own response in the face of this unprecedented disruption. Our faculty and our university community have rallied to make the semester work. Faculty members who have never taught online spent much of spring break and the next week learning new technologies, through workshops offered by KU's IT department and beyond. One of the most heartening things to see was how our faculty rallied together to create online groups and email chains full of useful information. Separated from our offices, the campus, and each other, we have still managed to connect using whatever means are available. Has it been easy? No. Have there been some bumps in the road? Yes. But we haven't let anything stop us from doing our jobs as educators. From everything I've been reading, I believe we will face more challenges as the coronavirus spreads in Pennsylvania. The spirit of support and outreach I've seen from our university community lends me a sense of optimism. This semester is unlike any other, but we will make it through together. Stay safe and healthy.
Tom Stewart President, APSCUF-KU