Return to Campus Discussion Series 2020-2021

To help you navigate Northwestern’s Phased Return to Campus, the University presented a series of online discussions about key topics, including important health and safety policies, academics, facility changes, residence halls and dining, testing and contact tracing and other subjects. The recordings of those sections can be found on this page.

Watch Past Discussions

Faculty/Staff Discussion

Date and time: Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, Noon-1 p.m.

Topics: Health, safety and the campus experience

Questions: Submit questions below through Aug. 18.

Host:

• Kathleen Hagerty, Provost and Professor

Panelists:

• Jaci Casazza, Assistant Provost for University Records and University Registrar
• Jeremy Schenk, Associate Vice President for Operations and Services with Student Affairs
• Luke Figora, Vice President for Operations
• Richard T D’Aquila, MD, Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Feinberg School of Medicine
• Sumit Dhar, Associate Provost for Faculty

Facilitator:

• Bob Holmgren, Faculty Senate President

Students and Families Discussion

Date and time: Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, 7-8 p.m.

Topics: Health, safety and the campus experience

Questions: Submit questions below through Aug. 17.

Host:

• Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, Vice President for Student Affairs

Panelists:

• Brent Turner, Executive Director of Campus Life
• Carlos Gonzalez, Executive Director of Residential Services
• Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson, Assistant Vice President for Inclusion and Chief of Staff
• Renee Cherubin, Executive Director of COVID and Operations
  

• Michael G. Ison, MD, Professor, Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Organ Transplantation, Feinberg School of Medicine
• Miriam Sherin, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

Facilitator:

• Mona Dugo, Assistant Vice President for Wellness and Dean of Students

Students and Families Discussion

Date and time: Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, Noon-1 p.m.

Topics: Class registration and the classroom experience

Questions: Submit questions below through Aug. 9.

Host and facilitator:

• Jaci Casazza, Assistant Provost for University Records and University Registrar

Panelists:

• Jim Stachowiak, Director of Assistive Technology and Assistant Director, AccessibleNU
• Kelly Mayo, Dean of The Graduate School
• Miriam Sherin, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
• Taya Carothers, Assistant Director, Office of International Student and Scholar Services

View the presentation slides

Faculty/Staff Discussion

Date and time: Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Topics: Health and safety

Host:

• Kathleen Hagerty, Provost and Professor

Panelists:

• Luke Figora, Vice President for Operations
• Priya Harjani, Interim Vice President for Human Resources
• Richard T. D’Aquila, MD, Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Feinberg School of Medicine
• Michael G. Ison, MD, Professor, Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Organ Transplantation, Feinberg School of Medicine

Facilitator:

• Nate Daigle, NUSAC Chair

The Second Year Experience (Tuesday, September 8, 2020)

Hosts:

• Kathleen Hagerty, Provost and Professor
• Luke Figora, Senior Associate Vice President, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer

Panelists:

• Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson, Executive Director for Campus Inclusion and Community and Chief of Staff, Student Affairs
• Jaci Casazza, University Registrar
• Carlos M. Gonzalez, Executive Director for Residential Services, Student Affairs
• Travis L. Martin, Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Affairs
• Jeremy Schenk, Executive Director, Norris University Center
• Miriam Sherin, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education

We're N This Together: The New Academic Year (Tuesday, September 1, 2020)

Panelists:

• Morty Schapiro, President and Professor
• Kathleen Hagerty, Provost and Professor
• Craig Johnson, Senior Vice President for Business and Finance
• Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, Vice President for Student Affairs
• Phil Asbury, University Director of Financial Aid
• Rich D’Aquila, Associate Vice President for Research, Howard Taylor Ricketts Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine)
• Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson, Executive Director for Campus Inclusion and Community and Chief of Staff, Student Affairs
• Chris Watson, Dean of Undergraduate Enrollment and Associate Vice President for Student Outreach

Return to Research (Thursday, August 20, 2020)

Hosts:

• Luke Figora, Senior Associate Vice President, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer
• Milan Mrksich, Vice President of Research, Office for Research

Panelists

• Ann Adams, Associate Vice President of Research, Office for Research
• Dr. Richard D’Aquila, Associate Vice President for Research, Howard Taylor Ricketts Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) - Feinberg School of Medicine
• Kelly Mayo, Interim Dean of The Graduate School and Associate Provost for Graduate Education

Planning for the Fall 2020 Student Experience (Thursday, August 13, 2020)

Discussion hosts:

• Luke Figora, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer
• Julie Payne-Kirchemeier, Vice President for Student Affairs

Panelists:

Student Services

• Stacey Brown, Director for Dining, Student Affairs
• Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson, Executive Director for Campus Inclusion and Community and Chief of Staff, Student Affairs
• Mona Dugo, Interim Dean of Students, Student Affairs
• Carlos M. Gonzalez, Executive Director for Residential Services, Student Affairs
• Travis L. Martin, Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Affairs

Athletics Activities and Experiences

• Elmer Almachar, Senior Director Strategy & Innovation, Kellogg
• Lesley-Ann Brown-Henderson, Executive Director for Campus Inclusion and Community and Chief of Staff, Student Affairs
• Lauren-Ashley Buchanan, Associate Director of Graduate Student Engagement, The Graduate School
• Tracey Gibson-Jackson, Associate Director, Student Organizations & Activities
• Travis L. Martin, Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Affairs
• Maureen Palcheck, Associate Athletics Director for Recreation and Athletics Manager

Student Health and Safety Update (Tuesday, August 4, 2020)

Discussion host:

• Luke Figora, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer – Northwestern

Panelists:

• Gwen Butler, Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Risk Management – Northwestern
• Lucas Christain, Assistant Dean and Director of Student Conduct – Northwestern
• Dr. Richard D’Aquila, Associate Vice President for Research, Howard Taylor Ricketts Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) - Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern
• Carlos Gonzalez, Executive Director of Residential Services – Northwestern
• Kevin Harris, Senior Director Operations, Facilities – Northwestern
• Dr. Michael G. Ison, Professor, Infectious Diseases & Organ Transplantation - Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine & Northwestern Medicine
• Ike Ogbo, Director of Health and Human Services – City of Evanston
• Dr. Robert Palinkas, Executive Director of Health Service – Northwestern

Guidance for International Students (Thursday, July 30, 2020)

Discussion hosts:

• Luke Figora, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer
• Kelly Mayo, Interim Dean of The Graduate School and Associate Provost for Graduate Education

Panelists: 

• Annelise Riles, Executive Director, Northwestern Buffett Institute for Global Affairs
• Theresa Johnson, Interim Director, International Student and Scholar Services
• Sarah Wake, Associate General Counsel

Academic Planning for Fall 2020 (Thursday, July 23, 2020)

Discussion hosts:

• Jaci Casazza, University Registrar
• Kelly Mayo, Interim Dean, TGS; Associate Provost for Graduate Education
• Miriam Sherin, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
• Mark Francis, Associate Provost for Operations and Facilities

Return to Campus (Thursday, July 16, 2020)

Discussion hosts:

• Kathleen Hagerty, Interim Provost and Professor
• Luke Figora, Senior Associate Vice President, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer