Dear AddRan Liberal Arts Undergrads:

I sincerely hope that you and your loved ones are staying healthy. In the Chancellor’s last communication, he announced your ability to choose whether you will be attending classes online or in-person this Fall semester. This decision was made to protect everyone’s well-being as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve. We have also allowed your professors to make this same choice, so that they, too, can make the best decisions for their personal well-being, as well as that of their loved ones. This means that some of your classes may be online, even if you opted for in-person learning. We understand that this may be frustrating and want to assure you that we are working hard to make sure that all of your classes, whether online or in-person, are reflective of the quality education you should expect from TCU.

While health and safety are our top priorities for the semester, I also want to acknowledge our commitment to maintaining and fostering the TCU experience that makes this learning environment so special. Our team of dedicated faculty and staff have been working throughout the summer to ensure that we will be providing you with a valuable experience this Fall, despite any changes that may arise from COVID-19.

I’ll leave you with a short reminder before discussing the specific actions we are taking to make this semester special for all of you:

Although things may be different on campus this semester, they do not have to be less than the experience you had originally hoped for.

Here are a few of the many things we are working on for the upcoming semester:

 

• Professors have been working diligently over the summer to prepare in-person and online classes that will fulfill your expectations of a “normal” TCU class.

• A majority of online classes will be held at the scheduled class time with live lectures, discussions, and activities.

• Classrooms and/or alternative spaces throughout campus will be provided for you to engage in your online classes. Thus, you will not be confined to your dorm rooms while engaging in online instruction.

• Professors will be available to meet 1-on-1 virtually (via Zoom) to help you with coursework and mentorship opportunities.

• Professors were required to complete intensive training over the summer to become “certified” to teach online. This means that faculty are receiving instruction on how to offer effective, engaging classroom experiences even when class activities occur virtually.

• Our regular services will still be readily available to you throughout the course of the semester, including Academic Advising, Career Services and co-curricular programs.

• We are adding several new services to help foster a better sense of community in the college. Along with events hosted in your departments, the college will also host a series of activities and events aimed at helping you stay engaged on campus. We will also be implementing a new program called AddRan Ambassadors, where a select group of students will serve as guides to your liberal arts experience at TCU. We will send out more information about this program in the coming weeks.

Above all else, please know that we are here for you. Our main goal is to help you to feel safe and receive a world-class education this Fall. You have chosen to study the liberal arts, which is shaped by a spirit of resiliency and a willingness to adapt, change, and learn as the world becomes more complex. I know that you are all leaders on this campus and have a passionate desire to learn, and someday change the world. We are here to help you on that journey, and this semester is no different.

 

Stay safe, and Go Frogs!

 Sonja S. Watson

Dean, AddRan College of Liberal Arts