While the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the transition to online learning in the spring of 2020, the 2020-2021 academic year brought the unique challenge of community building through a strictly online forum. This year, the Faculty-In-Residence faced the complex task of engaging with residents who were feeling isolated, many of whom had never even been to campus. The 48th year of the FIR program allowed our 18 FIRs to further discuss and reflect with students on a multitude of hard-hitting social issues such as racial injustice and activism, health inequities highlighted by COVID-19, and fatigue and burnout due to changes brought on by the pandemic and remote learning. While the medium changed, FIRs still found ways to engage with students across the world through Fiat Lux Courses, videos and forums, and online programs.
Monday, August 31 - Tuesday, September 1, 2020
The 2020-21 school year began with our annual FIR training led by the Associate Director of Academics, Idriss Njike, and FIR Lead, Professor Neil Garg. During this time, the FIR team discussed programming ideas in the remote learning environment based on student needs. Goals for the year included finding ways to safely engaging with students over Zoom and connect students to campus resources. FIRs also utilized their retreat to create a welcome video for social media to introduce themselves and coordinated other initiates such as Week X with Dr. Y and engagements with Living Learning Communities. Other programs including Bruin Feud with Professors, Taco Tuesdays, and the Undergraduate Research Forum were planned at training.
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This academic year, we said goodbye to valued team member Dr. David Kim.
This year, we had 27 new applications for the FIR position, 13 staff interviews, and 5 student interviews. Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Silvers and Dr. Jessica Harris for a successful renewal application who will be remaining on the team next year.
Furthermore, our FIRs are actively making great accomplishments. From Dr. Scot Brown releasing a new summer hit, Dr. Neil Garg and his daughters publishing an organic chemistry coloring book, to Dr. Miryung Kim receiving the ICSME’s 10-Year Retrospective Most Influential Paper Award, we are so proud of team members and send our congratulations!
Additional details about more of our FIR's achievements can be found at FIR News.
During the 2020-2021 academic year, FIRs taught virtual Fiat Lux courses on topics reflecting the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact.