With the recent announcement of Purdue University switching to online classes, I want to address you all directly regarding how we at the Lyles School of Civil Engineering will be approaching the situation.

First, let me be straight with you — the next few weeks at Purdue will be a challenge for everyone involved. This is an unprecedented situation, but the safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our number one priority — and I firmly believe the decision made by the university was the correct one to make.

The best-case scenario is that by March 30 the university will decide in-class lessons can resume this semester and we will see you all again as early as April 6. Regardless of the decision, there will be many obstacles we will need to overcome, but — I assure you — our faculty and staff are working tirelessly to ensure we create as seamless of a transition to online learning as possible. You chose Purdue and the Lyles School of Civil Engineering to receive a high-quality education taught by world-renown educators and researchers and that will not change.

A significant focus of our school for the past several years has been toward a greater transition toward online classes and educational opportunities. Connectivity and long-distance learning are the future and we are well aware of that. We will have far more details for you in the days to come regarding lesson plans, but I promise you that we are striving to provide you with the same great learning experience you have come to expect from us.

Civil engineering has always been a discipline that moves humanity towards greater progress — and that includes how we educate. With this turn of events, it has further deepened our commitment toward a future where we are able to provide our students with a high-quality learning experience, whether you are in Hampton Hall or behind a computer screen on the other side of the planet.

That said, we are well aware that these next few weeks of the 2019-20 school year may not be perfect — and we are preparing for that. We will likely stumble along the way and I expect some of us will find this transition difficult. Just know that our faculty and staff are here for you, and we will do everything in our power to answer your questions and address your concerns.

For now, I encourage you to relay any questions, comments, and/or concerns you have to me. My digital office door is always open and I welcome your feedback. You can contact me at govind@purdue.edu or by phone at (765) 494-2256.

Be safe. All the best,
Rao S. Govindaraju
Bowen Engineering Head of Civil Engineering and
The Christopher B. and Susan S. Burke Professor of Civil Engineering