Hello everyone and welcome to the Fall 2020 semester! While the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world (at least temporarily) in many ways, it has also presented unprecedented opportunities for us as architects, designers and planners to contribute our unique perspectives and creative critical thought to EVERY aspect of the designed and built environment (and the processes by which we envision and enact change). I hope you embrace the challenges with fresh perspectives and a willingness to explore new territories!

As we begin this academic year, I encourage you to be influenced by the College of Architecture values: Demand Excellence | Be Courageous | Practice Empathy | Look Beyond | Inspire Impact

Jaime Mastera Jaime.mastera@unl.edu

For Jaime, all advising will be conducted through Zoom. You can schedule an appointment with Jaime through MyPlan. Jaime will be holding walk-in Zoom hours starting August 17 - August 28 from 9-4pm. If something comes up and you would like to meet with Jaime, you can jump into her Zoom link here: https://unl.zoom.us/j/9286809395. After August 28, you will need to schedule your appointment through MyPlan in advance of meeting with Jaime.

Leslie Gonzalez leslie.gonzalez@unl.edu

For Leslie, all advising will be conducted through Zoom. You can schedule an appointment with Leslie via MyPlan. Leslie will be holding walk-in Zoom hours starting August 10 - August 28 from 9am-12 pm and from 1-3:30 pm. If something comes up and you would like to meet with Leslie, you can jump into her Zoom link here: https://unl.zoom.us/j/6816244297. After August 28, you will need to schedule your appointment through MyPlan in advance of meeting with Leslie.

Stephanie Kuenning skuenning2@unl.edu

For Stephanie, all advising will be conducted through Zoom. You can schedule an appointment with Stephanie via MyPlan. Stephanie can also be reached at 402-472-7943 or in Room 232 Architecture Hall West.

COA Shop and Media Center Hours for Fall Semester 2020

Monday – Friday 8AM – 5PM

Sunday 1PM-5PM

(Holidays or slow periods may affect these hours)

Masks are now required in the COA Media Center (MC) in rooms 21 and 22 (as they are throughout the building). MC room 22’s capacity will be limited to six people, per university social distancing restrictions. The physical entrance to the Media Center will now be through the Dutch door in room 22. Additionally, prints payed for in advance can be picked up in remote pick up bins in the Link.

Masks are now required in the COA Shop (as they are throughout the building). Shop capacity will be limited to nine students at a time, per university social distancing restrictions. Additionally, a work area with a limited supply of tools and equipment is set up in room 112. Both the shop and room 112 will be available for reservation for classes or individual use.

-Matthew Bukrey

The fall semester will prove to be unique and exciting but also filled with opportunities. Opportunities to think, act and make in new and innovative ways. As well as opportunities to question, challenge and reconsider architecture’s role in society. As we progress through the semester, I recommend taking a moment to observe and reflect on the unprecedented spatial opportunities we are currently in. The spatial dynamics we are facing today will likely have lasting impacts for decades to come. More-

I hope this finds you well and shifting to your best academic mindset as we prepare to come back to campus and engage in a robust fall schedule after what has been a less than ordinary summer. I will save any long-winded advice about how to approach this semester and expectations regarding safe and healthy practices (both due to COVID and overall health and wellness) because I trust that as young adults you have been doing some self-reflection on how you will approach this semester so that it is still academically challenging, fun and safe for our community. Please know that the faculty and staff have done a lot of preparation, training and thoughtful discussion over the summer on how to ensure a positive experience for you, our students and for ourselves. More-

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,…” Charles Dickens Tale of Two Cities.

It may seem a bit strange to say ‘welcome back to the university’ given the current situation with COVID-19. I can’t help but think many of you may have had some direct and perhaps tragic connection to the pandemic. For this you have my deepest sympathies. We must however move forward and this will certainly be a semester to remember. More-

Welcome current and new students of the MCRP Program to start the 2020 fall semester! This is an extremely difficult and totally different year. The COVID-19 pandemic has already significantly altered our normal life globally. Even though so many challenges and uncertainties still exist, the instructors in the MCRP Program worked very hard during this summer to prepare for this semester’s “new normal.” Most of the MCRP courses will be offered by hybrid models integrating remote learning plus effective communication and engagement between faculty and students. More-

College of Architecture faculty were awarded numerous grants and accolades over the summer from funds to build micro dwellings to COVID research. Read highlights here.

Free on-campus COVID testing site for students, faculty and staff has opened at the 17^th and R street parking garage.

This fall semester will look and feel very different. So that you’re well-prepared and understand our expectations, you need to complete the university’s COVID-19 Student Training before arriving on campus.

We shared a great deal of information in last week's Town Hall sessions with students - including information about building hours. Studios and classrooms will "look" a bit different with physical distancing of furniture. Investigate the link here for a brief overview of course formats for the coming semester.

Every effort has been made to make your academic experience the most robust and excellent we expect, while maintaining the safety standards of the University, CDC, and local health officials.

The Libraries will reopen with limited hours during the first week of remote classes and expanded

hours at the start of in-person classes on August 24. Students, faculty and staff will need their NCard to access most facilities. The Library Depository Retrieval Facility and Archives & Special Collections access will be by appointment only.

The HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service will continue for the fall semester, which means no in-library use or stacks browsing will be allowed, although the stacks will be open for use as study space. Digital requests for library materials, research support, teaching partnerships and collaborations, and ASKus services are all available online. Visit the Libraries blog for more information.

If you are considering taking NCARB’s ARE exam, check out these remote proctoring updates from the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects. More-

Check out the new competition and scholarship opportunities on our website or here on Canvas.

Note: Due to the numerous opportunities available, we are listing all content on our website. See links listed above for more details.

Check out the College of Architecture website for new internship and job 

opportunities. 

Plus, University of Nebraska Career Services encourages you to view a few of their new Full-Time job postings at Handshake. Check them out!

Fall Semester begins - classes start on asynchronous, remote learning basis

Date: Aug. 17

In-person instruction begins - for courses that have an in-person component

Date: Aug. 24

Date: Sept. 7

Date: Oct. 25

Date: Nov. 16-20

Date: Nov. 21-25

Date: Nov. 26–28

Date: Nov. 30 - Dec. 18

Date: Dec. 18

Date: Dec. 19