To Our Alumni,
As 2020 comes to a close, we are reminded of the courage, determination and passion the Case Western Reserve University community mustered to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our most recent alumni, the Class of 2020, have shown us what resiliency looks like. As students, they transitioned to remote learning in a matter of days, had to give up time-honored commencement traditions and many entered the workforce in a time of great instability. The character and flexibility of the Class of 2020 did not go unnoticed.
Case Western Reserve alumni have remained engaged during a time when it would have been easier to withdraw. You’ve continued to mentor graduate and undergraduate students online, participated in the first-ever virtual Homecoming festivities and generously donated to funds that support our students and our university in these complicated times.
While we enter 2021 with some uncertainty, we know the Case Western Reserve community around the globe is well-suited for whatever obstacles come next. We wish continued health and happiness to you all.
Shine on!
The Alumni Association of Case Western Reserve University
Stress and the Holidays During the Pandemic
The Alumni Association of Case Western Reserve University continues Spartans Step Up, a series of webcasts focusing on CWRU's approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spartans Step Up: Stress and the Holidays During COVID-19 focuses on the importance of self-care and ensuring the wellness of others, including children, in these trying times.
Monday, Dec. 14
Noon EST/ 9 a.m. PST
Joy K. Ward, PhD, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, will moderate an expert panel featuring:
- Amy Przeworski, PhD, associate professor, anxiety disorders, Department of Psychological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University;
- Linda Sharpe-Taylor (WRC '78), PhD, staff psychologist, Sisters of Saint Mary Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, and adjunct faculty, Saint Louis University School of Medicine; and
- Elizabeth J. Short, PhD, professor of psychology, director of the Developmental Master's Program, Department of Psychological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University.
Viewers are invited to submit questions for the panel by registering for the livestream or submitting them during the webcast.
One-time Change Needed for Your case.edu Email Account
Case Western Reserve’s University Technology ([U]Tech) division has taken steps to promote stronger security and improve usability with all case.edu email accounts. The change requires you to convert the password associated with your network ID (abc123) to a passphrase. Passphrases are an improvement over passwords because they are more difficult for unauthorized users to guess, but are easy to remember. This is a one-time change for alumni.
If you have not already done so, please change your password to a passphrase by Jan. 18, 2021.
[U]Tech has compiled general guidance for passphrase creation. As alumni, your passphrase will not expire in one year.
Last Day to Register: Holiday Concert from Your Couch!
Today (Monday, Dec. 7) is the last day to register for CWRU’s Concert from Your Couch! The Austin Alumni Chapter invites all CWRU alumni and parents to join them for a front row seat to see Grammy-nominated songwriter and piano sensation Jim Brickman during his virtual tour, Comfort & Joy at Home 2020.
Tuesday, Dec. 22
8:30 p.m. EST / 5:30 p.m. PST
Before performing some holiday classics as well as some of his own hit songs, Brickman—who studied at Case Western Reserve—will jump on a video call with fellow CWRU alumni to say hello. The Alumni Association also will share an update from the university.
Help Provide Real Work Experiences for Students
The Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship seeks applications from alumni to help Case Western Reserve students get real-world experience through the Remote Entrepreneurship Project program. The deadline for applications is Friday, Dec. 11.
Alumni are invited to participate by offering remote projects for students to work on in order to safely gain real work experience during the pandemic. Students receive a $500 stipend for their work, which is covered by CWRU's Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship and the Department of Post-Graduate Planning and Experiential Education.
Learn More About the REP Program
Calling All CWRU Legacy Families
Beginning in January, The Alumni Association of CWRU will use its social media sites to share the stories of CWRU legacy families.
If there are multiple CWRU alumni in your family, please send your story and picture to alumnirelations@case.edu, follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and look for your post as part of our Two or More Tuesday celebration.
International Rankings Update
Case Western Reserve University has made significant improvements in international rankings of higher education institutions this year.
In 2020, Case Western Reserve advanced from:
- 143 (in 2017) to 62 in the bibliometric CWTS Leiden Ranking—with Biomedical and Health Sciences ranking No. 12 in the world;
- 158 (in 2017) to 122 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings;
- 139 to 122 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities;
- 130 to 126 in the National Taiwan University Ranking;
- 155 to 142 in the U.S. News and World Report Global University Ranking; and
- 167 to 164 in the QS World University Rankings;.
CWRU began its international rankings initiative in 2017 after leadership found that global rankings can have direct and indirect impacts on many important sectors of the university—including partnerships, student and faculty recruitment, research, funding by foreign governments and overall institutional reputation.
To learn more about how we stack up, visit our rankings webpage.