The past couple of weeks have been a new adventure for all of us. I am very proud of the patience, flexibility and hard work that the faculty, staff and students have shown in the last couple of weeks. We are living in a new world where we’re all working remotely, and all of our classes have moved online.
The Math COVID-19 Response Team has been busy planning with our instructors so that our students can complete the Winter 2020 term, and we’re getting ready for an online Spring 2020 term. It’s great to see the creativity of our instructors as they move everything online to deliver courses to people spread across time zones.
I want to stress how important it is to take care of yourself. These times can mean uncertainty, increased stress, and even social isolation. We do have some positive news to share about things happening around the Faculty and on campus:
- The Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC) has developed a new resource called CEMC at Home which is now included on the province’s web page as per an email from the Deputy Education Minister to the University President.
- The CEMC is also receiving a lot of emails from teachers thanking them for their online resources that are helping them, their students, and parents.
- The Math Virtual Water Cooler (on What’s App) banded together and purchased supplies for the Student Food Bank to help those students in need.
- Any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) the CEMC purchased for use to open contests is being donated to medical workers.
- MS Teams is being used creatively by different groups to hold unit meetings, have daily “ice breaker” questions, virtual cryptic crosswords, and even virtual happy hours, Tutte socials and Grad House meet-ups on Fridays.
- Warriors Athletics has Warriors Online Yoga classes that you can take.
Celebrations have needed to change in the past couple of weeks, but that doesn’t mean that we still shouldn’t celebrate what happens in our Faculty. One celebration that will be very different this year is the June convocation as it moves online. We are brainstorming across campus for ways that we can make this a special day for all of our graduating students as they move to their next chapter in a world that looks very different. Watch our social channels and website for stories about this class of graduate.
This week, we start getting back to more “normal” communications. We will share more stories of celebration to bring positive news to our community.
Stay healthy and safe,
Kevin Hare
Interim Dean, Faculty of Mathematics – University of Waterloo
