From the Dean: Update on Undergraduate Instruction

Dear CALS Family, 

I am writing to make you aware of NC State University’s recent and difficult decision to move all fall semester undergraduate education online starting Monday, August 24. Graduate courses and clinical education may continue to meet in person or in a hybrid format. 

As we began navigating through the COVID-19 global pandemic, CALS leadership, faculty and staff have worked tirelessly with university officials and stakeholders to help define and adopt appropriate protocols, guidelines, and practices to help each of us do our part to protect our Pack and provide students a safe, learning and living environment during this extraordinary time. Despite the best efforts of many to protect our community, we are unable to continue in-person undergraduate instruction this fall.

I recognize this is disappointing news and not what any of us had hoped for at the start of the 2020-2021 academic year. It is a decision made to protect the health and safety of the entire campus community, and one that I support wholeheartedly. 

For more detailed information and updates related to on-campus housing, I encourage each of you to take a few moments to read Chancellor Woodson’s statement in full and share it with others within the CALS community. Chancellor Woodson’s remarks can be found here. 

What has not changed is:

• CALS’ commitment to provide every student with a world-class education.

• The work of NC State Extension to ensure all stakeholders continue to receive the vital research-backed information and solutions they need to survive and thrive.
• The work of CALS faculty to sustain and advance the ground-breaking research projects that fuels discovery, drives innovation and leads to real-world outcomes. 

I can’t stress enough how proud I am of CALS faculty and staff for all your hard work and “think and do spirit” over the last five months, and how each of you has remained adaptable and ready to pivot at a moment’s notice, especially our instructors. 

I am also extremely thankful for the continued support of our stakeholders, alumni and friends in these times of great uncertainty. None of us knows for sure what lies ahead, but I take great comfort in knowing how committed and supportive all of you are to this college and fulfilling our land grant mission.

Be safe. Stay well. Go Pack.

Richard H. Linton
Dean,
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences