Dear alumni and friends,
As we approach the midpoint of this very unusual semester I wanted to take a few minutes to update you on how things are going at ENVD. On a very positive note, we are functioning at full capacity. While we are in a remote instruction mode for most classes, we are teaching all of our studios, seminars, and lectures. All students are doing the same projects as they would in a normal semester setting.聽
Our faculty have done an amazing job of adjusting to teaching studios remotely. While it is not the most ideal situation, it is working. The same is true for the seminar and lecture courses. We are all getting a good education on how to manage technology and teach simultaneously. Just like many of you, our homes have been turned into television studio spaces.
We are also spending a lot of time and effort ensuring that our students are staying healthy and engaged. Our staff is spending an enormous amount of time working individually with students to make sure they feel a part of ENVD and that we are keeping our community together. I don鈥檛 want to sound like everyone is getting through this without any issues. Students, faculty and staff have good days and tough days. But, we are working together to get through what may be a long academic year.
We don鈥檛 know yet what the spring semester holds for us. We will know in a few weeks. Right now we are just focusing on the here and now.
There have been some interesting opportunities that emerged from this experience. We are able to bring professionals from around the country into studios virtually to talk to students and be guest critics.聽 If you are interested in taking part in one of these opportunities, please contact us.
A final, and extremely important piece. As you have probably heard, CU is in a tough budget situation. And that has of course extended to ENVD. Rather than having a budget increase this year, which we requested, we absorbed a five percent budget cut. This has resulted in larger class sizes, reduced electives, and most importantly, a significant drop in the availability of scholarships. We are currently facing a scholarship deficit of just over $100,000. We are facing the very real prospect of not being able to offer any year-end scholarships this year except for our endowed scholarships.聽
This is very disheartening to all of us and I want to ask for your help. If you can help with our scholarship fund this year, . Our students will be very thankful for all of your support.
I will keep all of you posted on the plans for ENVD next semester as we continue to receive information. Thank you for all of your support for ENVD. This is a great community and we enjoy hearing from our alumni and friends.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and I hope to see many of you in person as soon as we can.
With gratitude,
Paul