On behalf of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, we are excited to be among the first to welcome you to the CALS family of more than 40,000 alumni.

 

Throughout your CALS journey, you had many opportunities to learn outside of the classroom-in labs, in the field, and among your peers in student organizations and learning communities. A new type of learning outside of the classroom experience presented itself seven weeks ago and caught us all a little off guard. We are proud of the way you approached this challenge with confidence and a focus on your goals.

 

While things haven't been going as any of us planned, we cannot imagine a better time to be an agricultural or life scientist. Today's pandemic illustrates the tremendous value of the skills you have learned to improve public health, secure our food system, discover biological mechanisms and to forward public policy, and public service that benefits our communities. The solutions to the current pandemic will be derived from these components. Your CALS training has prepared you to become the next generation that will develop solutions to many of the future challenges our society will face.

Wherever your next steps take you, we want you to stay connected and share your future accomplishments with the CALS community. Soon, you will begin receiving our college's magazine, Grow. Grow highlights CALS stories and is also available online at grow.cals.wisc.edu. To receive alumni communications and invitations, please make sure to update your contact information at supportuw.org/update . You can also join the official online UW alumni community at badgerbridge.com , and stay connected through the Wisconsin Agricultural and Life Sciences Alumni Association (WALSAA). Visit walsaa.org for more information.

 

Our alumni also have access to Handshake and other career resources. Handshake is an online system where you can search for jobs listed by employers who are interested in CALS alumni. Handshake can be accessed on the CALS Career Services website, go.wisc.edu/calscareers. These resources are in place to help you make the transition from college student to working professional.

 

Your years of study have yielded knowledge and skills that will enhance your future and help you achieve your goals. It is an honor to celebrate this accomplishment with you.

 

Best wishes, be well, and On, Wisconsin!

 

Sincerely,                  

 

Kathryn VandenBosch                                         Karen Wassarman

Dean and Director                                              Associate Dean for Academic Affairs