May 3, 2024

Dear Friends,

Today we celebrate the last day of classes, and join university leadership in entreating students to celebrate safely and responsibly. As I write, that infernal bell is ringing non-stop, but it's also kinda cute. I congratulate our students on their hard work and many accomplishments this semester and wish them well as they begin final exams next week. They are the heart of soul of what we are about, and in the halcyon days when I still saw them regularly in the classrooms, they lifted my spirits (almost) every time. Plus, they are often very tall when they stand up, which for me made it worthwhile to attend my departmental graduation ceremony, because finally they were not sitting down and I could see and experience their full extent.

I also celebrate each of you as we near the home stretch of a challenging and rewarding semester. I’ll keep this brief as I know there are many demands on your time, especially now. I request a few moments of your attention, then you may indulge me in reading “below the line” or you may gallivant off to whatever else your Friday has in store.

Commencement – The W&M-wide Commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, May 17 at 7 pm in Zable Stadium. Please attend to support and celebrate with the students into whom you have poured so much time, dedication and care. Register to process by Monday, May 6. Please also plan to attend your departmental and program ceremonies. Faculty are also welcome to attend the cultural/affinity group ceremonies organized by the Center for Student Diversity (listed here). If you require regalia for the main or departmental ceremonies, please rent from the bookstore.
Final Grades – Close on the heels of Commencement follows another date, exciting in its own way: Final grades for ALL undergraduate students are due by 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21. View all undergraduate academic calendar dates here.
TTE Fellowships Guidelines – We are working on updating a number of policies and procedures (and making them easier to access) this summer. However, updated TTE Fellowship Support Guidelines are now available in the Policies section of A&S Resources for Faculty & Staff.
Media and Social Media Guidelines – I know it is a time of heightened tensions and many feel mounting pressure and increased awareness of the high stakes around all forms of communication. I want to remind us all of two helpful resources on the Essential Matters section of the Provost’s website: Personal Communications and Social Media Guidelines and Media and Social Media Guidelines for Promoting Faculty Work.
May 7 Celebration – A final reminder for our celebration on Tuesday after the semester’s final meeting of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences. Join us in and around Ewell Hall at 5 p.m. for a celebration of our retiring colleagues, those who are receiving A&S awards, and ALL of your hard work this semester. All A&S faculty and staff are invited and I hope to see you there.

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Inspired by the festive atmosphere, I went in search of poems about summer. (SO much better to get up early when you walk out into sunlight). What I found were poems about summer love, which also fits our students' emotional state (and who knows, perhaps yours as well). In this below-the-line, you will find links to love in the summer. I know it's a pest to have a dean who taught literature, but maybe next time you'll get a chemist and you'll finally have the chance to read about "the properties of substances, the changes they undergo, and the natural laws that describe these changes" (quote from University of Idaho website). Though come to think about it, not so different from love.

Aimee Mezhukumatathil, "The Woman Who Turned Down a Date with a Cherry Farmer"

"and still---he must have seen some small bit of loveliness

in walking his orchard with me."

Frank Lima, "Summer (a love poem)"

"because you are in season like a blue rug you are my favorite violin"

I actually do have a favorite violin, and I am off to play it now. Happy weekend, everyone.

best wishes, Suzanne

Suzanne Raitt

Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences

Chancellor Professor of English

Pronouns: she/her/hers