The 2019–20 academic year will be one to remember and, in many ways, perhaps one that we might prefer to forget. The impacts of this global pandemic will be indelible for all of us, even as they are still in flux. When we look back, what will we see? Or, rather, what will we choose to see, to remember, to celebrate? 

Your P&A Senate has accomplished many of the goals we began last summer, including: 

• to build and nurture strong working relationships with constituents, other employee governance groups, and with administration
• to engage in more robust and streamlined policy consultation and review
• to continue to advocate for clearer implementation of the updated 2018 parental leave policy
• to engage on the topic of compensation with Civil Service colleagues through the Joint Compensation Commission; 

and many others. 

We also needed to pivot away from some priorities to focus on others, such as responding to staff concerns and unanticipated impacts of the public health emergency, as well as coordinating and collaborating with central administration and the President’s Office on fiscal and operations planning and responses. Work that continues today, and will for the foreseeable future.

I plan to celebrate all of that (when I hopefully find an actual free minute or two for such celebration). I’m continually amazed by my P&A Senate colleagues who bring us outstanding ideas, problem-solving enthusiasm, and reserves of energy, over and over again, even when I know they are facing similar impacts and challenges in their personal and professional lives. We have heard suggestions and input from so many P&A colleagues, as well as their success stories in this difficult time. Even in this time of much uncertainty, I have never doubted all of you and all that you contribute to the University. I have great confidence in our P&A employees across the system and state–in the amazing work that you all do each and every day to support the trifold mission of the University: research and discovery, teaching and learning, outreach and public service.

I am filled with deep gratitude each time I hear about how P&A employees are stepping up at this time. We are the proverbial standard bearers for adaptability, ingenuity, perseverance, and figure-out-how-the-heck-to-make-this-work-edness. It has been an honor to work with the P&A Senate as chair this academic year, and I look forward with sincere optimism to the continuing efforts in the months and years ahead.