Welcome to the new school year! I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say that I’m looking forward to a “new normal” school year. It’s exciting to see students on campus again — studying, hanging out with friends and just living their lives.

The ASU Graduate College is pleased to announce the creation of the Caregiver Assistance Fellowship intended to support graduate students who are parents or caregivers and who have had additional financial burden due to COVID-19 closures.

In March 2020, as more than 200 graduate students were preparing to finish their degrees by defending their thesis or dissertation, Arizona State University switched to online instruction in response to the growing spread of COVID-19. According to ASU graduate policy at the time, all student defenses were to take place in person and the quick transition to online instruction left these students uncertain about the process for completing their defenses in time to graduate.

The 2020-21 academic year will be like no other. All of us, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, graduate faculty and staff, who together create the Graduate College community are doing our best to navigate returning to school in a new COVID-19 world. 

In a matter of weeks, COVID-19 has upended our society, effectively shutting down the economy as governments and healthcare workers battle the unforeseen pandemic flooding the nation. In particular, students have faced unexpected and drastic changes to their lives; at ASU, classes have been moved online for the rest of the semester, events and graduation ceremonies have been canceled, postponed or moved virtually and students have had to move home. We asked graduate students to tell us: what’s it like to be social distancing and what have you done to cope with the changes? 

In a matter of weeks, COVID-19 has upended our society, effectively shutting down the economy as governments and healthcare workers battle the unforeseen pandemic flooding the nation. In particular, students have faced unexpected and drastic changes to their lives; at ASU, classes have been moved online for the rest of the semester, events and graduation ceremonies have been canceled, postponed or moved virtually and students have had to move home. We asked graduate students to tell us: what have you done to keep yourself engaged academically and socially? 

As we cope with the demands and challenges stemming from the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), I want to reassure you that ASU and the Graduate College are prepared for this challenge. You are too!  

Our first priority is your health and well-being. Shifting classes online is an immediate step we can take to contain the spread of the virus. We continue to monitor this quickly evolving situation and promise to update you as necessary.  

• ASU has extended online classes through the end of the spring semester.