From the Dean
From the Macdonald E-newsletter: August 2020
I hope you have all had a nice summer, enjoying the beautiful weather and spending time with loved ones. It is hard to believe that September is on our doorstep and classes are beginning this week! The Fall term is certainly going to look quite different, with students learning remotely both in Montreal and across the world – but I know without a doubt that no matter where our students are, they will receive the quality education they deserve.
This past week has been action-packed, with many exciting events and activities taking place online. Various virtual Parents Tent and Orientation sessions not only provided new students and McGill parents with important information but also helped build a community for them. I also had the pleasure of hosting an online reception to welcome our newest students and their parents to the Macdonald Campus as well as give students the opportunity to meet their advisors and fellow classmates.
It is evident that our faculty, staff, students and volunteers are all committed to making sure our incoming class has the best experience possible – and I am so very proud of their dedication.
As our professors gear up for teaching and providing experiential learning opportunities for those students on campus, we are also continuing with some of our usual outreach programming for our alumni and extended community. We jump-start our ever popular Food for Thought Lecture Series with the A. Jean de Grandpré Distinguished Lecture Series on September 8 from 7:00 – 8:30 pm. While we are not welcoming alumni to campus this fall, we are pleased to offer At-Home Homecoming with some must-see signature events, including our Faculty-sponsored webcast titled “Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition, Food Security, and Well-being,” along with a Macdonald Trip Down Memory Lane event on Saturday, September 26. All the details will be updated on our Faculty webpage.
I look forward to the 2020-21 school year and know we are ready for whatever challenges it may bring!