This message was sent to Graduate School of Arts and Sciences students from Dean Burgmayer on March 13, 2020.
Dear GSAS students,
Today I write you with two updates on the information for GSAS graduate students that I provided to you just yesterday.
As predicted, the COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly, and these updates I am relaying today result from the closures in Montgomery County announced by Governor Wolf yesterday. See:
https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-sec-of-health-outline-covid-19-mitigation-guidance-for-montgomery-county-commonwealth-of-pennsylvania/
The changes reflect the College's intent to comply as closely as possible to the directive from Gov. Wolf.
Lab Research should be discontinued from its normal activities during 14 days beginning today, Mar. 13, 2020. All academic buildings will be locked. While graduate students have keys to access research areas, they should endeavor to mainly work from home, as has been advised for all faculty and staff at the College. It is recognized that graduate students may need to return to campus to retrieve materials or to do a brief maintenance task, but normal full day work is discouraged. It is also recognized that there are some graduate students who are course instructors and may need to return to lab to prepare for their remote teaching.
Meetings with faculty should be arranged on a remote basis, using Skype, or phone conversations, or through email.
Following the 14 day period, the campus situation will be evaluated and further updates will be communicated.
You can find also updates to the College’s overall status -- along with answers to frequently asked questions -- on the BMC coronavirus webpage.
I appreciation everyone's flexibility and good humor in this time of uncertainty.
May we be able to return to normal as soon as possible!
Sincere regards,
Dean Burgmayer
Sharon J. Nieter Burgmayer
W. Alton Jones Professor of Chemistry and Dean of Graduate Studies