Greetings,
 
Time bends in times of change.

It feels like a month ago that I sent the last Wildcat Wednesday -- but it was only one week.

The move to online learning

In the meantime we have moved, as has the University of Arizona and many if not most educational institutions, to delivering our courses fully online.
 
If you had asked most students, faculty, or IT professionals (or anyone else, for that matter) if our college, or our country, could move online in a matter of days, I suspect the answer would previously have been "that is unimaginable." 
 
But we now know that what is unimaginable is not impossible. 
 
To make this shift we, like so many others, need to rely on the grace and adaptability of students and faculty, and the support of our IT and online education teams.
 
We have already seen the emergence of new virtual gatherings. With more to come. 

Changes to graduation and other adjustments
 
We have also confronted some inevitable disappointments, where gathering in person is not only tradition, but very special. So, for example, looking forward as we must, both the university and the College of Law have had to cancel in-person graduation ceremonies this spring. (See message from UA President Robbins regarding graduation.)
 
This is sad. But we will continue our never-ending search for solutions, and support. We are likely to do some kind of virtual recognition in May, and once it is safe we will gather in person to celebrate the accomplishments and hard work of our graduates.

We are working closely with main campus. If you want to see a more fine-grained discussion, you can continue to follow updates on the law school and UA's COVID-19 information pages here (Arizona Law page) and here (UA page). President Robbins most recently addressed student mental health resources in this video.


Navigating the challenges

Looking a little way down the road, we foresee a national conversation about the bar exam in July, and impacts on summer legal employment. We will do everything we can to help our students and new graduates navigate these issues. 

We are also doing what we can to sustain our full support of students beyond courses and office hours. Dean JC and I have been able to hold call-in hours to answer student questions. Remote writing center appointments and library support are up and running smoothly.

A virus is not a sentient being. But I hate this virus. What I love is the way our law school community is fighting back.

Until the footnotes,
 
Marc
 
Around the College -- Online

How You Can Help Students Right Now


Many of you will be wondering about ways to support our students going forward. Here is one such opportunity. Please consider donating to Fuel the Responsea UA fund to help provide financial relief to all UA students -- including our professional and graduate law students -- in times of significant hardship.


Bright Spots from the Week

Arizona Law's short story club continues in a virtual format. The club, led by legal writing professor Sylvia Letton Monday discussed "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver and "The Great Silence" by Ted Chiang. 

Sylvia is an extraordinary teacher, whether she is teaching our JD students in Tucson to be greater legal writers or in the Mexican diplomat program where she teaches an introduction to the US legal system. Watch this space for details on the next meeting.

~

The Student Bar Association has published their first edition of "The Socially Distant Bulletin" for students. It's full of encouragement and ways to stay sane and connected with classmates.

~


TODAY, you can participate in our "virtual lunch" with Phoenix attorney David Wenner (of Snyder & Wenner PC), a nationally recognized authority on juror bias and decision-making. All members of the Arizona Law community are welcome to attend from noon to 1:30 p.m. today. Join via Zoom meeting here. 




Arizona Law's National Appellate Advocacy Teams earned high marks at the regional competition in early March.


Although it's necessary to minimize in-person interactions and stand further apart in physical space now, let's continue to stick close together in support of our Arizona Law students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends.

Again, please stay in touch, and stay safe.
 
Marc
 

 

 
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