A little over one year ago, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to radically rethink nearly every aspect of our daily lives. At the University of Saskatchewan (USask), campus buildings closed and we moved the majority of our teaching and learning online. Around the world, the lives of our alumni were upended just as dramatically.
We were separated, but not isolated; our distance only underscored the importance of working together. And working together is what all of us in the College of Arts and Science do best.
I have been continually inspired by the compassion and resilience shown by our community throughout this difficult time. Our alumni, donors, faculty, staff and students rose to the occasion, supporting each other and finding creative ways to improve the places in which we live and work. You will find some of their stories in the pages of this magazine.
Our students who graduated last spring and fall entered a world of unprecedented uncertainty. But it was heartening for me to know that as graduates of the College of Arts and Science, they are uniquely equipped to face this challenge. Like you, they have the foundational knowledge and skills they need to adapt to a lifetime of change—to attain the jobs and opportunities that have yet to be imagined.
Now, as the rollout of vaccines continues around the world, there is light at the end of this tunnel. We anticipate a significant increase in our in-person, on-campus instruction this fall. As we enter the post-COVID world, our focus in the College of Arts and Science turns once again to the future.
Over the next decade, we see potential for transformative change in our college: opportunities to make greater investments in our students, to further empower our researchers, and to make USask, more than ever, the university the world needs. All of this will happen with help from you, our alumni and donors, and I am eager to share more with you soon.
I hope that you and your families are healthy, safe and looking forward to a brighter tomorrow.