Caring for our community in a time of conflict
Oct. 13, 2023
Dear Colleagues,
This has been a difficult week as we’ve witnessed the horrifying violence that erupted and escalated in the Middle East. Many of our UGST students, staff, faculty, and alumni have been personally affected by the terrifying attacks on Israel and the subsequent violence convulsing the region. We share in mourning the many lives lost and upended.
Provost Rice has shared guidance for instructors and programs to promote understanding and flexibility for students who are struggling with the effects of the conflict. The Counseling Center and the Faculty Staff Assistance Program are available as resources for those seeking support.
Campus safety officials assure us that UMPD is actively monitoring circumstances locally and nationally, and they have a comprehensive security plan in place. In a message earlier today, President Pines reaffirmed UMD’s commitment to supporting students who are gathering to protest the violence and grieve the tragic loss of life throughout the region.
I want to echo and affirm what President Pines and Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Georgina Dodge wrote in a message to campus earlier this week: “As a community of care and a campus dedicated to service, let us recommit ourselves to one another and to peace in our world.”
Sincerely,
William A. Cohen
Associate Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies