Over the past few weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused us all to make the difficult adjustment to a new reality — one that would have seemed unimaginable before. In the San Diego State University College of Education (COE), that has meant shifting every facet of what we do — be it classroom learning, experiential training or community service — into the virtual space. It has been an enormous undertaking full of long hours and unforeseen hurdles, but I am pleased to report that, thanks to the astounding dedication and innovative spirit of our students, faculty, and staff, we have met this challenge head on.
I can’t adequately express my gratitude for all the individuals who have contributed to this collective effort. That goes especially for our college’s technology support professionals, faculty fellows, and student workers who worked long hours to ensure our transition to virtual learning and telework went as smoothly as possible. I am also so appreciative of our faculty who have worked patiently and diligently to transition their classes online, of our staff who have transformed home offices and kitchen tables into work stations, and of our students who have stayed committed to their studies while facing upheaval and uncertainty in other aspects of their lives.
None of this would have been possible without our entire COE family coming together to rise to the challenge of this extraordinary moment. I have never been more proud to be a part of this remarkable community.
—Y. Barry Chung, PhD
Dean, College of Education
I can’t adequately express my gratitude for all the individuals who have contributed to this collective effort. That goes especially for our college’s technology support professionals, faculty fellows, and student workers who worked long hours to ensure our transition to virtual learning and telework went as smoothly as possible. I am also so appreciative of our faculty who have worked patiently and diligently to transition their classes online, of our staff who have transformed home offices and kitchen tables into work stations, and of our students who have stayed committed to their studies while facing upheaval and uncertainty in other aspects of their lives.
None of this would have been possible without our entire COE family coming together to rise to the challenge of this extraordinary moment.Through it all, COE’s top priority has been to keep students on track to earn degrees, certificates, and credentials in a timely fashion, while ensuring they continue to receive exemplary training and necessary experience. We are working with the California State University System and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to ensure undergraduate students unable to meet prerequisites because of COVID-related disruption can enter our teacher credential programs on schedule. And we are working with the CTC and the school districts to get our current credential students into classrooms this fall, even as school closures have severely limited student teaching opportunities. Meanwhile, we have enabled our master’s students to continue to gain experience as counselors and therapists by shifting our community-based clinics online.
None of this would have been possible without our entire COE family coming together to rise to the challenge of this extraordinary moment. I have never been more proud to be a part of this remarkable community.
—Y. Barry Chung, PhD
Dean, College of Education