Faculty Meeting News and Notes: August 20, 2020
Campus Photo (Photo Allyson Frantz/The Gettysburgian)
By Anna Cincotta, Editor-in-Chief
Takeaways:
- 208 students have opted to study remotely.
- There will be a second round of baseline testing for students studying residentially.
- The college is facing “significant financial issues” that “have been augmented by COVID-19.”
Thursday’s faculty meeting began with a celebratory and grateful tone as President Iuliano thanked the faculty for their efforts throughout the fall planning process. He also announced that the most recent count indicates that 208 students have opted to study remotely, a number that he says reflects “the fact that students want to be here.”
The return to a residential model, however, has come with a multitude of challenges.
Prior to the meeting, an email sent out by Dean Julie Ramsey announced that there will be a second round of baseline testing for students. Iuliano explained that the decision was made due to “recent events at other colleges.”
“We will have more to say by the end of next week when we get the results back,” Iuliano said.
Last Sunday, it was reported that nine students had tested positive for COVID-19. According to the email sent out to the campus community, “the students who have tested positive are in isolation and the contact tracing process has been completed.”
The administration’s financial concerns were also highlighted on Thursday.
“There are significant financial issues that we’re going to have to attend to as a college that have been augmented by COVID-19,” President Iuliano said. He hopes to engage in conversations with the campus community about the situation in the coming months, and the next capital campaign for the college is imminent.
Beyond COVID-19, the faculty is starting the process of curriculum review. Accreditation is also forthcoming, and Gettysburg’s strategic plan will expire soon.
News and Notes
- The recipient of Gettysburg College Award for Distinguished Teaching Award is Julia Hendon, professor of Anthropology.
- New Faculty:
- Kirby Farah, Assistant Professor of Anthropology
- Jenna Craig, Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology
- Jason Labonte, Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
- Emily Sahadeo, Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
- Xin Tang, Assistant Professor of Economics
- Xingyi Puckett, Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics
- Jesse Cordes Selbin, Assistant Professor of English
- Abigail Frederickson, Visiting Associate Professor of Health Sciences
- Jim Downs, Gilder Lehrman NEH Professorship of Civil War Era Studies
- Sarah Bryant, lecturer in Mathematics
- Caitlin Hult, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
- Ya-Wen Chuang, Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics
- Kevin Pham, Assistant Professor of Political Science
- Ae sil Woo, Assistant Professor of Political Science
- Jaein Wee, Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology
- Elly Toyoda, Visiting Assistant Professor of Music
