Sent to: Michigan Engineering faculty, staff and students
Greetings, and welcome to a new academic term!
First, I want to start by acknowledging the campus-wide IT outage and its impact on the beginning of the term. As we just heard from President Ono, U-M Information and Technology Services (ITS) has been working around the clock to resolve the issues, as have our College IT team members. Please continue to look to U-M for updates at umich.edu and other channels. And, thank you for practicing patience and flexibility for students as they navigate the first week of classes under these trying circumstances.
Despite the bumpy start, I have every confidence that this academic term will be a bright one. Since my appointment as interim dean in June, I’ve had the incredible privilege of serving the Michigan Engineering community—a community I first joined as a mechanical engineering student in 1982.
So much has changed since that time, yet we are steadfast in not just the pursuit of science exploration and knowledge, but in its application to serve the common good. Michigan Engineering is a place where engineers work to have a positive impact on the world, applying a people-first engineering mindset to build a future that will help close societal gaps and elevate all people.
I hope you share my pride in being part of this community: Our research enterprise is strong and continuing to grow; our students’ educational pursuits and experiential learning experiences stand us apart from our peers; and our continued focus on our culture is contributing to a more inclusive, collaborative and healthy environment.
As we begin a new term, I’d like to share a few reminders of how, as a community, we can maintain a safe, secure and supportive environment on North Campus. It’s easy to feel sheltered here amongst the trees, but as our community grows, so does the amount of people with access to our spaces—we’re still a public college campus, just like central. With that in mind, please do your part to help ensure the safety and security of our community:
Safety Tools & Resources:
- Download the U-M Public Safety Mobile App today and review the services and information it provides. If you ever feel uncomfortable walking alone on campus, you can use the app to request after-hours or emergency transportation, report a crime or concern, or contact DPSS with a one-touch “Call DPSS” button within the app.
- Anyone on campus can directly contact DPSS by using the Emergency Blue Light Phones located throughout campus. When the telephone receiver is removed from the cradle or the button is pushed, DPSS Dispatch Services is automatically provided a location and an officer will be sent to the location of the telephone.
- You can find a collection of additional safety tips and other guidance on the DPSS website related to personal safety, emergency response, campus safety and protecting your property.
Best Practices:
- Trust your intuition. If a particular situation makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, choose an alternative.
- If you see something, say something. Report suspicious behavior. Call 911.
- Avoid providing building access to people you do not know or anybody who makes you feel unsafe.
- Walk with a trusted friend or co-worker when possible. If you feel unsafe while transiting across campus, especially outside of normal business hours, call DPSS and they can arrange for an escort or ride.
There’s work to be done, and Michigan Engineering is taking that work seriously. We are beginning with an evaluation of our facilities to see where we can improve safety measures. We want to be thorough and do this right, so it is going to take some time. Keep an eye out for additional communications with updates on this effort.
We are an interconnected community with resources at multiple levels, ready to provide help and support, and want you to succeed personally, professionally and academically. I encourage you to take advantage of the multiple resources available to you as an employee to support both your ongoing well-being as well as your health and wellness in times of need.
I wish you an excellent semester.
Go Blue!
Steven L. Ceccio, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Engineering
Vincent T. and Gloria M. Gorguze Professor of Engineering