A Message from Dean Fox
Dear FACS Alumni,
We are now three weeks in to the unprecedented shift to online instruction brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Everybody has been affected by this global health crisis, and while it has been a challenge for all of us, it also has brought about new opportunities and inspiring stories of compassion, bravery and determination.
I wanted to provide a brief update to all of you to let you know how we have responded to this unique challenge and reassure you that at the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, we are well equipped to meet the needs of our students, faculty and staff.
Earlier this month, the University System of Georgia announced that online instruction will continue through Maymester and summer sessions.
At FACS, we were prepared for this move in part because we have already invested in a number of online learning fellows in each of our departments. Two of our departments, Foods and Nutrition and Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics, have offered fully online degree programs for several years, and we have applied these lessons to the current situation.
Another point of pride in all the upheaval has been watching how our faculty have responded. While eight of our study away programs were unfortunately canceled, several faculty members have reconfigured those classes and have even added more online classes to summer session so those students will not lose credit for courses they need.
It also has been inspiring to see our faculty being proactive in getting relevant information to the public through news articles and media interviews. You can find these on news.uga.edu and on the UGA and FACS social media channels.
One of the decisions we had to make was the postponement of the 2020 Alumni Awards ceremony. While we were sad to move the event, we look forward to recognizing these honorees in spring 2020.
Much is still uncertain about events planned for the fall, so I encourage you to check the UGA coronavirus page and the UGA Alumni Association page for updates.
We are still planning to send you a FACS Magazine in early fall. That issue will highlight some of the amazing efforts of our students, faculty and alumni to address the needs of so many during this pandemic. If you are aware of a FACS graduate who has an inspiring story of service and devotion, please submit it here.
This weekend, you will receive an email communication from the UGA Alumni Association that will have additional information and updates about how you can engage with the greater UGA alumni community and use this opportunity to commit to making a difference. I know the FACS family has, and will, continue to respond admirably to these challenging times, and I look forward to seeing those stories.
We have long prided ourselves as being student-centric, and our students and alumni often liken the college to a family, a home away from home. Never has this been more obvious to me than the past month.
Just recently, a faculty member sought remote internship opportunities for her students with an appeal to some alumni, and the FACS network responded overwhelmingly, ensuring our students could still develop necessary skills to prepare them for future employment. We know you’re always there for us! And that’s just one example.
It’s true that our world is different today, and while we’re not all together at the moment, we’re all still Bulldogs, and we can still make a difference. Amid all the uncertainty, that’s something that will never change.
Stay safe and Go Dawgs!
Linda Kirk Fox
Dean