Letter from the President

April 20, 2020

SHSU Community,

In recent weeks, many of our fellow Bearkats - essential employees, first responders, and healthcare workers, have found themselves on the frontlines of a dangerous fight. We owe an incredible debt of gratitude for their bravery in serving others.

At the center of this pandemic lies the tremendous spirit and heart of everyday heroes, people who have brought light to this dark time. Following the university motto, "The measure of a Life is its Service," many members of our faculty and staff are bringing ingenuity and compassion together in order to help others.

  • Barry Doss in the Dance Department costume shop is sewing cloth masks for those staff members still working on campus. Several online employees have also taken the initiative to assist with making cloth masks and are giving them out for free.
  • The College of Health Sciences opened up its sewing lab to Dr. Rosanne Keathley, assistant chair in the Department of Population Health and a number of faculty and staff volunteers, in order to construct facemasks for the community.
  • RAs Shelby Williams, Emily McMillen and Caeleh Hibbard worked with Residence Hall Director, Heather-Reneé Gooch, to sew fabric masks for the team. In no time, they had sewn masks for each Estill RA and are working to sew masks for Residence Life hall staff members across campus.
  • Ericka Dupclay, assistant to the Chair of Biological Sciences and her daughter (who is also a SHSU student) have made over 100 face masks, donating them to first responders as well as those everyday unsung heroes (post office employees, elderly facility employees, etc.). They also donated masks to New York and New Orleans.
  • Professor Ray Busby in the College of Science & Technology is working on a prototype of reusable masks made from 3-D components that only require filter replacement. The local hospital in Huntsville is providing consultation. Once the masks are tested and approved, the team estimates they can produce 10 masks a day.
  • Professors Dr. Pamela Zelbst and Dr. Jason Riley in The Center for Innovation and Technology are turning their 3D-printing capability into a small manufacturing site for creating face shields to be used by medical workers.
  • Faculty are also exploring the feasibility of a disinfection spray booth for people, which would be manufactured in Engineering Technology.

Across the nation, the College of Education and SHSU Online are supporting our education colleagues through the challenges presented by school closures and remote learning.

  • Faculty in the College of Education volunteered to serve as coaches and guides for teachers and educators. Any instructor can email EdSafety@shsu.edu and receive feedback and guidance, within 72 hours, on issues pertaining to online instruction and distance learning through this free service.
  • SHSU's Center for Assessment, Research, and Educational Safety (CARES) has complied helpful resources for teachers and other professionals as they navigate the challenges of online and remote learning.
  • The SHSU Online leadership team is assisting higher education institutions and Region 6 with their academic continuity plans. SHSU's plan was subsequently implemented at both Lamar Institute of Technology and Sul Ross with SHSU Online training their instructors as they transitioned to remote teaching.

    Beyond helping these TSUS schools, SHSU Online also provides consulting for schools across the United States, at no charge. In the days leading up to the nation-wide closure of campuses, over 256 colleges and universities downloaded our continuity plan.

During this time of COVID-19, it is difficult to see any news that does not relate to the pandemic and its toll on the public. Education through reliable information sources is critical. You might have recently noticed a familiar face on the news or comments in published articles from our own SHSU faculty.

  • Dr. Darren Williams, professor of physical chemistry, provided numerous interviews on the subject of cleaning by busting myths and outlining practical ways to protect ourselves.
  • Dr. Matt Fuller in the College of Education helped to explain the CARES Act and its impact on education.
  • Environmental health professor, Dr. Dhitinut Ratnapradipa, provided insight on lag times between COVID-19 exposures, cases and death numbers.
  • In the College of Business Administration, Dr. Jason Riley, spoke on the importance of supply chains during a pandemic.
  • Dean of the College of Education, Dr. Stacy Edmonson, was interviewed on student teaching and certification complications.
  • History professor, Dr. Zachary Doleshal provided insight on the history of viruses in Texas.

I cannot say it enough – we are a strong community, a united community, a community that cares. Each time you assist a student, you provide a much needed connection, one filled with kindness and compassion. Thank you for all that you do to support our students, each other, and the many who are in need. Most importantly, thank you for emulating the true spirit of our university.




Dr Hoyt Signature
Dana G. Hoyt, President