Dear Mandel School students,
Spring break is ending and it certainly has been eventful. You have been receiving multiple communications from the university and the Mandel School. I want to be sure that you know we have created a COVID-19 webpage that contains all of the relevant information on the university's and school's response to the current situation.
The university announced that no class meetings will be held on March 16 and 17. On March 18, classes resume but only in a remote format. Your faculty members will contact you in regards to arrangements about your classes. They are working diligently to ensure that you receive an excellent educational experience in your classes. We are committed to you getting the top-notch training that you have come to expect at the Mandel School.
For students in the MSSA program, field education is continuing. Yesterday, you received guidance on our policy that governs field education if your agency is closed. We rely on the directors of the agencies to determine the times when it is appropriate to stop service to clients and/or to judge when a student trainee should not participate further in the agency. If you have questions, please contact your field advisor.
Your health and safety are always paramount. Please continue to follow the CDC's advice on personal care.
Social workers and nonprofit leaders are at the front edge of society in meeting the needs of all members of our communities. This is a very challenging time but it is one where we are all needed. I deeply appreciate the commitment that you have made to develop your mind and your skills so that you can be a truly effective Change Agent. This difficult period is both a test and a learning experience for us all. We will emerge with more knowledge about being effective during pandemics and other disasters. We won't look fondly on this period but we will take our lessons into the future.
Thank you for your dedication and work.
Sincerely,
Grover C. Gilmore, PhD
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Dean in Applied Social Sciences