April 13, 2020
Dear Graduate Students,
First of all, I hope you are keeping healthy and safe in these testing times.
Last week, I had the opportunity to meet with the A&SGSO leadership from across your departments and programs to discuss the University and Dietrich School’s responses to the COVID-19 global pandemic and a wide range of current and emerging issues. I shared then, and wish to restate here, my deep appreciation for all that you are doing under extraordinary circumstances.
As the parent of a young child, I appreciate the additional juggling involved for those amongst you who are balancing your remote research, learning, and teaching with childcare and homeschooling. At the same time, separation from wider family and other support networks can exacerbate the strains we are currently all experiencing. I’m thinking especially of our many international students and the added challenges that can come with being separated from families far away, as my own family well understands.
I continue to encourage you all to regularly check the frequently updated resources on the university’s centrally curated websites. These include links, amongst others, to the Student Emergency Assistance Fund, to recurring remote workshops offered specifically for graduate students by the University Counseling Center, as well as resources for those teaching remotely and resources for international students.
As we follow guidance on physical distancing while maintaining momentum in research and instruction, it is important that we stay engaged and connected, with families, friends, and fellow scholars. As always, I appreciate every opportunity to hear directly from graduate students about your concerns, questions, and suggestions. In place of my monthly “walk-in” office hour, I’m offering zoom (office) hours. The next zoom hour is Thursday, April 16, 10:00–11:00am. These will be opportunities for any of you – individually or in small groups – to meet with me to raise any questions or concerns you might have about the current situation, the summer, and beyond. I will not always have all the answers, or not immediately, but I will provide what information I can and connect you with additional resources as appropriate. As always, whether you have detailed queries about academic policies or resources, wish to put an emerging issue on my radar, consider big picture items, or just want to touch base, please do connect. To receive the zoom/call-in info, please reach out to kathleen.monin@pitt.edu any time before or during the hour and let her know whether you plan to attend individually or with other students.
I look forward to us staying connected via Zoom and other means over the coming weeks. And please don’t hesitate to reach out directly at any time to this email (graddean@pitt.edu) with any concerns, questions, or suggestions you might have.
Stay safe,
Holger Hoock.
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Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences – University of Pittsburgh