It’s hard to believe we have all been working virtually for four months now. When I locked my office door and walked out of Mendoza in late March, I never imagined that it would be the last time to see and interact in person with so many faculty, staff and students for months on end. While the lack of human interaction has been personally challenging for this extrovert, I continue to be in awe of the hard work, diligence and commitment of everyone in the College during these unprecedented times.

As we move into the fall semester and once again welcome our undergraduate, graduate and executive students back to both in-person and virtual classes, the College is committed to remaining diligent in minimizing their potential risk of contracting COVID-19. In addition to the University’s safety protocols — the classroom improvements, face masks and social distancing — many of our staff members will continue to work remotely with very limited time on campus.

For the period of August through November, less than 20% of our staff will be primarily on campus. Almost 40% will be working completely remotely. (To see the breakdown, click here. For a complete list of staff and their workforce designation, click here.)

While we have become somewhat accustomed to this type of working environment while our students have also been remote, it will create some new “norms” as they return to campus. For example, most of our suites will remain locked with card access or by appointment only. When we do see one another, it will be behind face masks and from a safe social distance. 

We need to continue to be thoughtful about reaching out to one another through phone calls and Zoom. Most importantly, we all need to conduct ourselves with patience and grace as we rethink our traditional Notre Dame “high-touch” approach in a virtual environment. Provost Marie Lynn Miranda recently wrote in an email, “We are part of a community of learning in which compassionate care for one another is part of our spiritual and social charter.” This is a good reminder as we go about our jobs to consider the well-being of others by complying with the safety protocols and acting with compassion in our interactions with one another. As always, if you do not feel safe in your working environment, please speak up by contacting me or the Coronavirus Response Unit hotline at 574-634-HERE or covidresponseunit@nd.edu.

One thing that has become evident to me and everyone in the Dean’s Office over the last four months is how dedicated and effective our staff has been on delivering on our promises virtually to our key constituents — namely, the students and faculty. While this way of operating and interacting with one another is not ideal, I am convinced that together we will flourish and succeed as only the Mendoza family can. I want to specifically recognize the Mendoza Emergency Response Committee, the Transition Back to Work Committee, the dean, associate deans and leaders across the College, and all of those who have gone above and beyond their job descriptions to serve in so many ways!

During a recent workshop, we were asked what our North Star is during times of change and transition. One of mine is to always look for the silver linings in any situation. I am proud to work in an environment that is service-driven with so many thought partners who think creatively and compassionately in all we do. 

Thank you to all!

Kara

Kara J. Palmer
Director of Administration