A message from the chancellor: Welcome back to campus
"As we all settle into new routines and navigate a changing environment in the coming weeks, please take care of yourself and each other. I look forward to seeing you around campus."
Dear Carolina Community,
Welcome back and to the first day of class. I hope the last few weeks offered a chance to rest and recharge because we’ve got a very full semester ahead.
Undoubtedly, there is plenty of uncertainty before us. We are in the midst of yet another wave of COVID-19 cases, but this time with the benefit of a highly vaccinated campus community, and we have more knowledge about how to manage and treat this virus. We are closely monitoring the situation and will adjust our plans if needed, as we have done in past semesters. Thanks in advance to all of you who are joining us in keeping the campus as safe as possible.
I know that there are concerns about returning to on-campus life and learning during the increase of cases around the country. As I’ve said before, we continue to hear from many students, parents and faculty about the value they place in an on-campus living and learning environment and the importance of in-person instruction for student success. We remain committed to providing the safest residential learning experience for our students while continuing our mission of teaching, learning and service, and we have offered flexibility for deans and instructors over the next few weeks.
Even with this uncertainty, there is much to look forward to in 2022. Soon we will launch a new general education curriculum, IDEAS in Action, that emphasizes experiential education and the importance of inquiry. We anticipate another incredible year in research funding, which fuels groundbreaking research that improves society and contributes to the common good. At the end of the fall semester, I went to see the QEP Research Expo in the Blue Zone, where undergraduates from across campus presented their research projects. Seeing what happens when students get the chance to work alongside our world-class faculty and researchers in their labs or at their field sites was a reminder of what makes our campus so special, and how being together helps spark curiosity and drive discovery.
As we all settle into new routines and navigate a changing environment in the coming weeks, please take care of yourself and each other. I look forward to seeing you around campus.
Sincerely,
Kevin M. Guskiewicz
Chancellor
