April News for Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni

Monthly Newsletter

April 2020

They Met Through Chopin, Now Played on Steinway

Dr. Jeanne Sylvestre met Dr. Robert Holm through the music of Frédéric Chopin. A pianist and music professor at the University of South Alabama, Holm chose an all-Chopin program for a concert last month that honored Sylvestre’s legacy gift to the University.

Dean Wierzbicki's Note

It is my sincere hope that our Arts and Sciences community of alumni, students, faculty and staff, along with their families, stay healthy and safe through the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In this time of great uncertainty, I have been heartened by the tremendous response of our University community to the challenges posed by the current situation. The College of Arts and Sciences, along with the rest of the University, continues to operate and, while we are not meeting on campus, we have transitioned to online instruction and will be graduating our class of 2020 this spring.

It pleases me greatly to tell you that this transition to online instruction has gone very well overall. While challenges remain, our College is in a good position to address the current challenges posed by remote learning, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the faculty and staff of our College who are admirably meeting them every day.

I hope that this month’s newsletter will convince you that the College of Arts and Sciences will continue to advance its mission of teaching, research, and service despite the immense challenges currently facing our country and the world.

- Dr. Andrzej Wierzbicki

Student Testimonials

Sean Beatty: South Undergraduate Student

Shares Note to Philosophy Department Chair Dr. Kevin Meeker

"I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the wonderful job you and your staff have done in recent weeks transitioning to online classes. It would have been very difficult to resume classes with some semblance of normalcy had the transition process taken an extended period of time. Not only was the transition seamless, but it was done very thoughtfully and with a great deal of care and concern for the students. Until a year ago, I worked as a GM in the restaurant industry and can appreciate how much of a logistical challenge it was for all of you. Thank you Dr. Meeker and your staff for all that you do!"

Larry Harbison: Undergraduate Student Shares Note

Harbison is a currently taking Calculus, Chemistry, American Literature After 1865, Symphony Band, and a tuba lesson with Dr. Will Petersen.

"I really wanna put it out there that South Alabama and its professors are doing a fantastic job of making the online experience work. All eight of my classes are running very smoothly. Even symphony band and my tuba lesson have great systems being implemented. Props to South Alabama and it’s staff for doing things right during these rough times. Go Jags!"

A Legal Mind, a Basketball IQ

Lori Baggett graduated from the University of South Alabama in 1998 with a degree in English and played on the women's basketball team. She has been named managing partner of Carlton Fields' Tampa, Fla., office.

USA OneStop for Students

The USA OneStop and South CARES team is working to support students displaced or impacted by programming adjustments in light of the COVID-19 public health threat. For ongoing information about resources dedicated to supporting our student population during this time, click the link below.

USA Center for Academic Excellence Online Tutoring

Students can access online tutoring directly through Canvas and Sakai course sites. Look for a tool titled "ThinkingStorm Online Tutoring." The program offers 24-hour online drop-in support for math, statistics and science. Additional topics and subjects can be covered by request, including cross-curricular writing support.

ILC Events for Faculty/Staff: Transitioning to Teach Remotely

The USA Innovation in Learning Center is hosting live events to assist faculty and staff with the transition to teaching remotely . Daily online training sessions are being held for Sakai, Panopto and Zoom. Faculty and staff can also schedule individual ILC consultation sessions.

South Services Virtual Volunteer Opportunities

Even though you may be practicing social distancing given the spread of COVID-19, you can still find meaningful opportunities for community engagement . Check out the South Serves Virtual Volunteerism initiative to learn more about various online needs happening now.

Be sure to follow USA College of Arts and Sciences on Facebook and Instagram!