The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of education like nothing we have seen before. The SOE is providing critical support to overcome the challenges of this shifting landscape. Our graduates are on the front lines, teaching, counseling, leading, and designing new ways to reach students and families. Our faculty have adapted to providing a mix of in-person and online instruction while maintaining a high-quality educational experience for our students. And our commitment to preparing the next generation of educators has never been stronger, with current enrollments in our undergraduate and graduate programs up over last year.
In the SOE, we talk about wicked problems — the greatest problems facing society for which there is no single cause and no single solution. Among the most widely recognized wicked problem is that of educational inequity. It is within the context of this wicked problem that our SOE works tenaciously to address disparate educational opportunities and socio-economic well-being. The pandemic has only intensified educational inequities, adding to the critical importance of our work.
Many of you have asked, "How can I help?" Right now, we need flexible funds — the kind of money the Dean or a Department Chair can use to help a student in crisis. The Dean's Greatest Needs Fund or department enrichment funds provide that kind of support. Please consider making a gift to the SOE or your department, allowing us to continue to address the many challenges facing our students and faculty right now and going forward. You can be assured your generosity and care will make an immediate impact. For more information, please email Terri Jackson, Senior Director of Development, or call her at 336-256-0496.
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