University Announcements

The Matriculation Convocation date has been changed to September 24^th at 11:10 am. It will be webcast at that time.

Dear Colleagues,

As the academic year comes to a close, we have shifted our institutional focus from COVID-19 crisis response to the challenges COVID-19 brings to our community, academic program, and daily work. In May, President Burstein established a team of faculty, staff, and students to research and recommend how to approach our learning and living, and working environment for the academic year 2020-21 and beyond: the Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team (LPPT).   

The LPPT is preparing three possible living and learning modes:  

• Full Mode (high on-campus student residency, courses taught in-person and via distance learning) 
• Flex Mode (moderate on-campus density, with a mix of students residing on- and off-campus; a mix of distance and in-person courses) 
• Distance Mode (like spring 2020: low on-campus student residency, courses taught remotely)  

The LPPT comprises five working groups, each addressing different facets related to Full, Flex, and Distance modes. Working groups consist of Lawrentians who bring expertise or important perspectives to the various planning areas. The five groups are:  

• Health  
• Curricular  
• Co-Curricular  
• Outside In  
• Employees & Legal Aspects

A description of each group’s focus, a full list of the group chairs and members, and information on work to date is available on the COVID-19 News blog.

Each group has been meeting separately to review current research from expert sources and apply its developing knowledge to its focus area. The heads of each working group have been meeting periodically, as well, to share progress, questions, and possible solutions. By the end of June, each of the groups will have completed its work and will share their findings to President Burstein and the Cabinet, who will consult with faculty representatives and the Board of Trustees to deliver their final plan in the month of July. Our goal is to move as quickly as possible so faculty and staff can begin working immediately toward starting the academic year. 

Preparing for the fall will be a full community effort, engaging both individual departments and offices and the existing committees within our governance structure, and we’d like to thank everyone in advance for their efforts to successfully launch an academic year in this challenging environment. Information about the SARS-CoV-2 changes every week. It is likely LPPT will need to continue to meet periodically as our understanding of the virus unfolds and campus and Fox Cities conditions change. If a policy change is needed after fall term begins, the LPPT would discuss options with appropriate shared governance.

We will share important information before that final plan is announced. For example, we can share with you today that the start of the 2020-21 academic year has been finalized. Upon the recommendation of the LPPT and following consultation with the Faculty Governance Committee and the Curriculum Committee, the Cabinet has decided to start the 2020-21 academic year at its original date: classes will start on September 14. In addition, December Term 2020 will not take place. 

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, please refer them to your supervisor or a member of the LPPT. Thank you for your ongoing patience, cooperation, and work as we all learn to adapt and live with COVID-19.   

On behalf of the Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team,  
Christyn Abaray  
Assistant to the President  
LPPT Project Manager

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce a few changes in the President’s Cabinet. 

As many of you know, Jake Woodford, former Secretary to the Board and Assistant to the President was elected Mayor of Appleton.  I am deeply grateful for Jake’s service to his alma mater.  We will host a campus reception for our new Mayor as soon as we can, to give us all a chance to thank Jake for the enormous impact he has had on Lawrence and to wish him well in guiding Appleton’s future. 

Since the beginning of the mayoral campaign last fall, Christyn Abaray has served as interim Secretary to the Board and Assistant to the President.  I am thrilled that she will now pick up this position permanently.  In addition to supervising the Athletics Department, Christyn will permanently assume all the other roles Jake performed: primary contact for the Board of Trustees; lead liaison to the Fox Cities, State and Federal agencies; managing real estate transactions here and in Door Country.  As part of this transition, the President’s Cabinet will diminish in size by one.  This change will help us reach our goal of lowering operating costs by $3.5 million.  Christyn will announce today a new full-time Athletics Director.

Jeff Clark, Professor of Geosciences will also complete his three-year term as Special Assistant to the President at the end of this academic year.  I want to thank Jeff for the leadership and enthusiasm he brought to this role.  His work to deepen Lawrence’s sustainability efforts, to revitalize our 3-2 program relationships, and to establish a connection with the Center for Professional and Executive Development at University of Madison’s Business School, among other initiatives, has moved Lawrence forward in many important ways.  

I am pleased that Jason Brozek, the Stephen Edward Scarff Professor of International Affairs and Associate Professor of Government will be the next Special Assistant to the President.  Jason will work with Provost Kodat and me on our strategic priority of Deepening the Academic Program.  In this regard, I have also asked Elizabeth De Stasio, Raymond J. Herzog Professor of Science and Professor of Biology, to join Jason in this effort in her role as Chair of the Pre-Health Advising Committee.  I want to thank both Jason and Beth for finding time for this important work. The University’s sustainability efforts will continue to be led by Kelsey McCormick, our Sustainability Coordinator, and the Sustainability Steering Committee which is comprised of student, faculty, and staff representatives.  Kelsey will report to Christyn for this and other responsibilities. 

After over 25 years of service, Nancy Truesdell will also retire from her role as Special Assistant to the President in June.  I want to thank Nancy for her “third career” at Lawrence serving as interim Registrar and leading a number of different initiatives over the past three years.  We have counted on her dedication to the University and to learning, time and time again in her multiple roles at Lawrence.  I am thankful that she will continue to serve the higher education community as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission.  Her position as special assistant will not be replaced.  I know you will join me in wishing Nancy the best of luck.

Yours, 

Mark

Mark Burstein

President

Thursday, January 16, 2020
11:10 a.m. at the Lawrence Memorial Chapel

“The Parallel Polis”
Masha Gessen, Russian-American journalist and author

Free and open to the public

Q&A immediately following

Dear Lawrence Community,

Following our announcement of a change of venue for Commencement 2019, we heard from many members of the graduating class and their families. They were concerned about the plan to move Commencement to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center (PAC). Several administrators and I met with Senior Class officers, Miranda Salazar and Hoa Huynh, on Tuesday. We agreed to hold a forum that afternoon for the graduating class to ask questions and better understand the factors at play in the decision.

The discussion was representative of the best of Lawrence. Students engaged thoughtfully with this important issue and, together, we came to a better understanding of our different priorities. The University administration had prioritized ensuring a quality of experience defined primarily by sheltering participants and guests and mitigating issues around accessibility—even at the expense of potentially limiting in-person attendance. Forum participants expressed different priorities, specifically, providing a location that supports open, in-person, attendance and keeps Commencement in its traditional location of Main Hall Green.

Because not all members of the graduating class were able to attend the forum, and not all participants shared their preference publicly, we agreed to poll the entire class. The poll contained context about the pros and cons of each viable option. We were clear both in the forum and in the poll that the choice of Main Hall Green at this point means the vast majority of seating will not be covered by a tent; this might lead to a delay of Commencement exercises in the event of inclement weather. Furthermore, the condition of the Green may still be soft or muddy in places depending on weather leading up to the event. This said, we heard loud and clear from the class that they want as many family and friends as possible to watch them walk across the stage, to witness in person the culmination of their Lawrence experience. They also want the University to arrange for a rain site to prevent outright cancellation of Commencement in the event of sustained inclement weather.

The poll closed at 12:00 p.m. yesterday, and we met with Miranda and Hoa to discuss the outcome. The results revealed a resounding preference for Main Hall Green: 202 for the Green, 69 for the PAC, total participation rate of nearly 80% of the graduating class. In light of this feedback, we will plan for Commencement 2019 to be held on Main Hall Green on the same date, at the same time as originally announced: June 9, 10:00 a.m. CDT. Please plan for an open-air event.

In addition to making technical arrangements to hold the ceremony on the Green, University staff and faculty have begun arranging a viable rain site in the event of inclement weather on the day of Commencement. Please note that any rain site option will require tickets. These will be distributed to graduates at the Commencement Rehearsal on Friday, June 7, regardless of the forecast for the day of the ceremony. Please watch for additional communication about this change.

As a learning institution, civil discourse and learning from differing perspectives are essential elements of the education we provide and the values we uphold. We thank the Senior Class officers for organizing these important discussions—the perspectives and insights expressed by students helped us work toward a shared goal of making Commencement 2019 a memorable event for all.

Please remember to visit go.lawrence.edu/commencement for information regarding Commencement, including updates to the schedule or other important news. Thank you for your patience. I look forward to celebrating with you in June.

Sincerely,

Mark

Mark Burstein

President, Lawrence University

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