January 27, 2021
Dear L&S Undergraduate Students,
Hello, Badgers, and welcome back to the start of a new semester! I hope you found some much-deserved time to relax over the winter break, whether it was with a new book or just catching up on your favorite show.
By now, you should be aware of some of the expanded testing requirements that campus has implemented for our community. If not, please visit the COVID-19 Response website, where you can learn about the new measures in place to keep our campus safe, including the new Safer Badgers app.
Last fall was tough, and I know many of you encountered difficult circumstances as you navigated a mix of in-person, remote, and hybrid instruction necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. L&S is committed to making improvements for you to ensure you are supported during this complex learning environment.
I want you to know that we’ve made a number of improvements to instructional training and support recently. L&S faculty and staff now have a wider range of tools available to enhance our current hybrid teaching and learning model to benefit you this semester.
We recognize that tutoring support is more critical than ever, and study groups are great ways to connect with fellow Badgers. The L&S Student Academic Affairs Office has partnered with the Center for the First-Year Experience and the Greater University Tutoring Service (GUTS) to supply new funding through the Academic Match program for L&S students to tutor study groups in courses where student demand is greatest. This is in response to our call to action to find ways to improve student-to-student engagement around academics.
Campus rooms and related resources are available to support you with your courses and when you need a place to study, a computer, Wi-Fi access, or a private space. Resources available at each building are listed HERE, including the types of rooms, check-in and reservation options, and technology resources.
Above all, I urge you to take care of yourselves this semester. Christina Olstad, Dean of Students, recently emailed you a list of community-building and well-being resources to support you this spring, from the Winter Wisconsin Welcome events to mental health support services and financial aid assistance for students facing challenges and emergencies. Please check out Dean Olstad’s message.
Thank you for all the hard work you’ve put into your classes, for supporting each other, and for helping keep our campus safe. I know that brighter days are on the horizon.
On, Wisconsin!
Eric M. Wilcots
Dean and Mary C. Jacoby Professor of Astronomy
College of Letters & Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison