September 16, 2020
Dear L&S undergraduate students,
As we navigate these incredibly difficult times together, I want to let you know that all of us here in L&S are deeply concerned about your mental health and welfare, and we are dedicated to doing everything we can to ensure you’re able to meet your academic goals. I have heard your concerns, how worried and upset you are about what is happening right now—both on our campus, and across the country. This is a very challenging time to be a college student. But you should also know that all of this will eventually pass, and all the normal things you miss and enjoy will return. And through the support we offer each other, we will come through all of it stronger than before.
This hasn’t been the campus experience we wanted for you. Chancellor Rebecca Blank acknowledged this in her Tuesday blog post. She also said we’ll continue to watch the data and be guided by advice from medical and public health professionals. I can’t emphasize enough that this week and next will be critical. Please continue to adhere closely to health protocols, both on- and off-campus. University Health Services has prepared some new resources you may find useful during these difficult times: https://www.uhs.wisc.edu/badger-virtual-care-package/
Badgers care about their community. We care about you. If you are on Instagram, you may have seen IGTV messages of support from faculty who miss you as much as you miss them. This series is also going up on the L&S YouTube channel. Follow us at UWMadisonLS to stay connected. More messages will be coming.
We are here for you, L&S students. We are your instructors, advisors, deans, department learning center staff, members of the SuccessWorks team, and many more. We’re part of a wide network of support that includes your friends, family and classmates. Always remember to ask for help when you need it, and take good care of yourself and those around you.
Dean Wilcots
Eric M. Wilcots
Dean and Mary C. Jacoby Professor of Astronomy
College of Letters & Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison