Reflections from the Dean
This week, I am holding virtual Town Halls with students, full-time faculty, and staff to reflect on this time of revolutionary change caused by COVID-19–both within higher education and across society overall. The health and safety of our community remains our top priority.
Some of the immediate, actionable takeaways out of the Dean’s Office include:
-
Working with the SPS Student Government Association to better understand the student perspective;
-
Developing a COVID-19 Task Force, to advise the school’s Executive Committee on crucial items pertaining to the pandemic;
-
Hosting regular, virtual Town Halls that feature various experts, to keep our community apprised of all updates and decisions pertaining to this crisis; and
-
Seeking input from our community regarding this unfolding situation.
I encourage you to share questions, thoughts, and concerns by emailing SharewithSPS [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu (SharewithSPS[at]columbia[dot]edu). You have the full support of my office and the leaders of this University.
Jason Wingard, PhD
Dean and Professor
Learning From Home
Create a protected space. Stick to a routine. Stay connected. Dean Wingard asked Human Capital Management graduate students George Yash, Audrey Allen, James Niblick, and Steffanie Garzon for best practices from their experiences working and learning remotely. Share your own tips, or photos of your workspace, in the comments.
Pivoting to Remote Instruction
Victoria Fullard, Sally Benner, and Laura Lawler ran their first practice session over Zoom in advance of their regular Thursday night capstone class. Read how other Strategic Communication faculty members, including Ethan Pew and Frank Oswald, pivoted from face-to-face classroom teaching to remote instruction as part of the University’s united effort to flatten the curve.
Motivating Teams
The Information and Knowledge Strategy program has perfected remote work for 10 years, says Academic Director Mary Abraham. IKNS Lecturer Dr. Nancy Dixon offers a round-up of best practices and resources to ensure the engagement, happiness, and productivity of remote teams.
Leading From Home, Supporting Mental Health
Dean Wingard writes about leadership, strategy, and practical applications for Forbes. The rise of COVID-19 has prompted many companies to ask their employees to work from home. Read "Leading Remote Workers: The Coronavirus’ Impact On Effective Management." Many employees are juggling health concerns and mounting anxiety alongside their jobs and families. Read “Mental Health In The Workplace: Leading In The COVID-19 Context.”
Making Sense of COVID-19
Dr. Robert Klitzman, Academic Director of the Bioethics program and member of the Dean’s Council, discusses the influence of bias in how the public is responding to public health directives in Psychology Today.
Policy and the Primaries
Stay engaged with livestreamed webcasts. Tomorrow night, tune in to the latest installment of the Nonprofit Management’s National Election 2020 series, “Primary Season: How Super Tuesday and Critical State Primaries Elevate Policy Choices,” with panelists Seyron Foo, Andrea Gately Bottner, David M. Stone, moderated by Election Series Co-Developers Sue Santa and Sandra Swirski. RSVP.