Am I the only one who feels as if working remotely has been longer than two and 1/2 weeks? (We started on Monday, March 16.) Or, do I just miss being on campus and seeing all of you in person?
Operating Penn remotely is possible, and not nearly the same as being together. But, it is necessary as we collectively confront the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hopefully you read the university-wide messages from President Gutmann, Provost Pritchett and myself about Penn’s deep commitment to the safety and health of our community. However, this is my newsletter and my opportunity to communicate directly with you about how I am feeling. Simply put: I am so impressed by all of you! We have a stellar team which I (we) have always known. But over the last month, the rest of the world has learned what Penn is made of: determination, talent, dedication and compassion.
• This was surely true as we quickly implemented a College House “move-out” of several thousand students; while simultaneously determining which students could remain on campus based on extenuating circumstances. And for the many Penn students who had to depart with few resources, our colleagues arranged travel, ensuring broadband connectivity, and in some cases supplying living expenses. And then there was extracting 500 students studying abroad. This was not just taxing work, but emotionally draining as anxious students and families saw an abrupt end to the semester. For your ambassadorship, my hat is off to you.
• The wonders of technology are nothing if you don’t have wonderful technologists. I can’t say enough about this team who stepped up in converting classrooms, conference rooms, dorm rooms, and even study rooms from the analog to the digital. The mission continues with the super powers of the IT pros. Kudos to our gurus in ISC and technologists across the EVP divisions and a special thanks to HireIT and the many desktop support professionals that have enabled our remote work!
• And to our incredible Human Resources professionals in the central office, and across the Division, who are creating new policies for advancing our work and home lives - you put the humanity in human resources.
• Penn is not immune to the financial impact of the pandemic and the changing economy -- likely impacting our distribution of financial aid and attraction of research dollars to name two examples. We have a reservoir of talented financial professionals keeping our reserves smartly deployed in the short and long term. From one finance person to another, you have my total confidence, and deep gratitude, for ensuring our balance sheets of today, tomorrow and the long horizon are healthy.
• And speaking of confidence, what can I say about those of you on the frontline? Our skilled tradespersons and housekeepers are keeping our facilities functional, and our public safety officers and staff are patrolling the community at a time when some elements of society will attempt to capitalize on the pandemic. You join the ranks of the doctors and nurses on the front line fighting the good fight.
Best Practices
Let me use this opportunity to encourage best practices in working from home. There are several great articles on this topic and I have included a few at the bottom of the newsletter under Craig's Tips. Also, we all need to practice staying safe. I can’t resist a quote our quotable founder, Benjamin Franklin, who said “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is really apt as we know social and physical distancing works in reducing the spread. Our awareness of how our preventative actions make a difference will mitigate the spread of the virus.
We are confronting a challenge on many levels, beginning with personal and public health, and including economic, social, and even political. If you are feeling anxious, you are not alone and there are resources available to you such as the
Employee Assistance Program
which is also operating via telephone. We can also take advantage of online resources that help guide us through relaxation techniques. Give them a try, as I find them helpful.
https://penn.staywell.com/Home
Until we are together again please be safe and well. I will leave with this quote from an unknown author: "I think that when the dust settles, we will realize how little we need, how very much we actually have, and the true value of human connections."
Best,
Craig
