{"id":97035,"date":"2020-03-30T09:59:03","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T14:59:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.olemiss.edu\/?p=97035"},"modified":"2020-03-30T15:17:48","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T20:17:48","slug":"deans-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web20.olemiss.edu\/news\/wordpress\/deans-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"Message from the Dean"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Brevard Hall stairwell. Photo by Kevin Bain\/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services<\/p><\/div>\n

Dear Ole Miss Engineering <\/span>c<\/span>ommunity, <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Coronavirus, <\/span>COVID-19, unprecedented<\/span> times<\/span>, uncharted territory, <\/span>pandemic, <\/span>social distancing, <\/span>flatten the curve,<\/span> course conversion, Zoom meetings<\/span> \u2026<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

These w<\/span>ords and phrases are now forever ingrained in our vocabulary<\/span>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span> recent, widespread <\/span>disruptions<\/span>,<\/span> and those <\/span>yet to<\/span> occur<\/span>, have<\/span> undoubtedly affected our lives, and perhaps <\/span>done so <\/span>permanently<\/span>. <\/span>As engineers and scientists, we critically evaluate data <\/span>to make informed decisions<\/span>. <\/span>We <\/span>determine<\/span> solutions and solve problem<\/span>s<\/span>. <\/span>Analysis of the data <\/span>regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) <\/span>reveals an exponential progression of cases<\/span> and <\/span>the need for <\/span>social distancing to <\/span>minimize disease transmission<\/span>. <\/span>For universities, including ours, <\/span>t<\/span>he safety <\/span>and health <\/span>of <\/span>students, staff and faculty<\/span> is our highest priority<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

The Ole Miss Engineering <\/span>c<\/span>ommunity has been tremendous during these trying times<\/span>. The s<\/span>chool lea<\/span>dership <\/span>has been holding <\/span>videoconferences<\/span> every morning to <\/span>figure out innovative ways to <\/span>manage the rest of the semeste<\/span>r \u2026 <\/span>and share a bit of humor. <\/span>Faculty <\/span>members <\/span>are<\/span> holding<\/span> their courses <\/span>in <\/span>one of the many alternative educational formats<\/span> to support academic progression of our students<\/span>. <\/span>Staff <\/span>members <\/span>are working to maintain \u201cnormal\u201d operations and support the students and faculty, even if doing that from home<\/span>. <\/span>And our Rebel Engineer students have been patient with us through their extended spring b<\/span>reak, <\/span>adjustment to remote instruction<\/span>, and restart of their classes from across the co<\/span>untry<\/span> and around the world<\/span>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

It l<\/span>ooks like my record of presiding over <\/span>the School of <\/a><\/span>Engineering<\/a> commencement in the Circle is going to be 0 for 2<\/span>. Last year, inclement weather won out. This year, the pandemic means we\u2019ll need to defer commencement with its beautiful ceremonies in the Grove and on the Circle. <\/span>The importa<\/span>nt consideration is graduation \u2014<\/span> which will occur as students complete their degree requirements. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Campus is eerily quiet<\/span> these days<\/span>, different <\/span>from <\/span>spring break or the winter break<\/span>. <\/span>It is odd to see the Woods Lounge in Brevard <\/span>completely <\/span>empt<\/span>y and <\/span>walk through <\/span>the <\/span>Carrier <\/span>Annex<\/span> without hearing<\/span> students working in the \u201csweat<\/span>shop<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span> It\u2019s strange not to have the spring parade of<\/span> prospective student<\/span>s, <\/span>full of anticipation and excitement<\/span>, visiting campus<\/span>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Things will return to normal eventually, hopefully sooner than later, and in all likelihood better in many ways<\/span>. <\/span>Additional challenges <\/span>are<\/span> ahead, but together<\/span>,<\/span> we will weather this storm<\/span>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

God granting, w<\/span>e look forward to <\/span>seeing you on campus this fall<\/span>, perhaps at tailgating<\/span> in front of Brevard Hall<\/span> in the spirit of revived campus life as we kick<\/span> off <\/span>the next era <\/span>of<\/span> Rebel football<\/span>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Stay well and strong!<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Dave<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

P.S. If you would like to give to the <\/span>Rebel Relief Fund<\/span><\/a>, your donations will be used to help University of Mississippi students in need as a result of the COVID-19 crisis<\/span>. <\/span>Thank you<\/span>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

—————————————–<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Henry Brevard<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

Henry Brevard, one of the School of Engineering\u2019s most notable and influential bene<\/span>factors, passed away on Feb.<\/span> 24. He had witnessed nearly a century of victories and c<\/span>hallenges through his lifetime. <\/span>Brevard<\/span> set a fine example for all of us in Brevard Hall to press on, find a way to continue being successful, look for opp<\/span>ortunities, <\/span>serve<\/span> others well<\/span> and lead with absolute integrity. We are gra<\/span>teful not only for his impact on the school<\/span> but<\/span> also<\/span>,<\/span> by example<\/span>,<\/span> his encouragement to his alma mater to stay the course and persevere through turbulent waters.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Ole Miss Engineering community,   Coronavirus, COVID-19, unprecedented times, uncharted territory, pandemic, social distancing, flatten the curve, course conversion, Zoom meetings \u2026  These words and phrases are now forever ingrained in our vocabulary.   The recent, widespread disruptions, and those yet to occur, have undoubtedly affected our lives, and perhaps done so permanently. As engineers andRead the story …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1399,178],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nMessage from the Dean - Ole Miss News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/news.olemiss.edu\/deans-letter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Message from the Dean - Ole Miss News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dear Ole Miss Engineering community,   Coronavirus, COVID-19, unprecedented times, uncharted territory, pandemic, social distancing, flatten the curve, course conversion, Zoom meetings \u2026  These words and phrases are now forever ingrained in our vocabulary.   The recent, widespread disruptions, and those yet to occur, have undoubtedly affected our lives, and perhaps done so permanently. 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