UI Foundation/UI Advancement Weekly Update 07.09.21
Dear Team:
We’re back! (O.K…. sort of, but it is starting to feel like the good old days.)
Tuesday was my first “official” day back in my Harker Hall office. I spent the entire day there instead of just stopping in for a couple of hours. And even though the windows were dirty and there was a bit of extra dust around, it was amazing to look out onto the sunny Quad. What really made it special was seeing Becky and Julie in person and not on a computer screen. It was the first time the three of us had seen each other at the same time, in the same place since this mess began almost 16 months ago. Later we conducted our first “official” hybrid meeting, Zooming as a group with others who were working virtually. If I sound a little excited, it’s because I am. The excitement continued Wednesday with even more of a buzz in the building. I had in-person meetings with staff and walked down Green Street to the new Target. It was an odd combination of old and new experiences, almost like starting a new job, but I already knew everyone.
In some ways, everyone will probably feel a bit like they are starting a new job when they return to their university or Foundation workspace. Not only do you have to re-acclimate to your old digs, you will also be around co-workers again, so you will probably need to switch out the slippers with something equally comfy, but more appropriate for the workplace. I also caution you not to get too frustrated if you can’t remember little things like what printer settings to use or where the new dry-erase markers are. Chalk it all up as part of the return-to-work journey and embrace the challenge.
It will take some time to adjust to working on campus again, so give yourself some grace as you transition back to your offices and university parking again. Equally important, make sure you are aware of all UIF and university health and safety requirements. The well-being of you and your families is still our No. 1 priority. The news about the Delta variant is troubling and an indication that we cannot let our guard down.
Well, my almost normal week is ending with me wrapping up this message from a hotel room in Washington, D.C., where I am presiding over my last meeting as Board Chair for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). It was nice getting back on a plane and checking into a hotel, however, what I most look forward to is seeing my CASE colleagues and friends. Speaking of which, I have two full days of meetings ahead, so I should probably sign off now.
Stay well and as always, have a great weekend!
Cheers,
Jim
PS: The University of Illinois System released its 2021 annual report last week, detailing the many accomplishments of all three of our universities. Creating a saliva-based coronavirus test may have received the most attention, but there are plenty of other ways our universities transformed lives and served society in 2020-21. If you haven’t seen the report, you can access it here.