Smeal Update: September 3, 2021

Help celebrate 15th anniversary of the Smeal Honor Code

All members of the Smeal community are invited each fall to (re)affirm their support of Smeal’s commitment to continuously develop a culture grounded in honor and integrity. This year we will be celebrating the 15th anniversary of the creation of the honor code by students, faculty, and passionate alumni. This year’s honor code signing will be a bit different from the past, with participants asked to sign on their own devices. There will be a table in the Business Building Atrium each day from Sept. 13-17 with some items to help with the celebration. Traditionally, we have asked for staff to volunteer to assist with the signing event. If you are interested in staffing the honor code table, sign up on this Doodle poll by Thursday.

Accenture CFO KC McClure leads with an eye to the future

KC McClure, who graduated from Smeal in 1987, has spent her entire career, more than 30 years, at the same company. She's ascended all the way to chief financial officer at Accenture. Read more about this Smeal Board of Visitors member in the fifth installment of our Women in Business Series.

ICDS Symposium: The Future of Digital Fairness scheduled for Oct. 6-7

The Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences symposium “The Future of Digital Fairness” is scheduled for Oct. 6-7 virtually and at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center. Among the highlights of the symposium will be:

  • Two keynote discussions, one focused on equity and data science and another on replication of genomic studies
  • A poster competition for students, with cash prizes of $500 and $200
  • Panel discussions on:
  • Ethical challenges and considerations in the application of machine learning methods to clinical medicine
  • Law, policy, and data
  • Energy, justice, and big data
  • Industry perspectives on the future of digital fairness

For more information, or to register, visit: www.icds.psu.edu/fairness

Encourage undergraduate students to apply for an alumni mentor

The Development and Alumni Relations Office is seeking the help of faculty and staff to promote the Smeal Mentoring Program to second-, third-, fourth-, or fifth-year students. The program offers students the opportunity to explore topics such as academic majors, internships, career planning, college to career transition, and leadership development with an alumni mentor for the academic year. Students can apply by Sept. 24 by visiting www.smeal.psu.edu/mentoring. Contact Wendy Jo Hartsock with questions at wjh21@psu.edu or (814) 863-5946.

Faculty, staff photos to be taken in late September

The RIIT Group will be taking faculty and staff portraits Sept. 28-30 in the RIIT Group Studio in 11 Business Building. These photos are used for the online directory and in bios. They are often used for brochures and other publications. Any faculty/staff member who does not have a photo on file, or who would like to have their existing photo updated, is welcome to sign up for an appointment.

Do you know someone who rocks? Nominate them!

Each month the Smeal Staff Advisory Committee names a You Rock! Award recipient. You can nominate a co-worker for the You Rock! Award online.

The Smeal Community Weekly Poll


Click this link to participate in this week’s survey about a variety of subjects. Results will be shared during the next Smeal Community Zoom, at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Save the Date: 2021 Fall All-College Meeting

The Smeal 2021 Fall All-College Meeting is scheduled for 3:30-5 p.m. Sept. 14. The meeting will be held in Struthers Auditorium, 110 Business Building, and via Zoom. More details to come.

Questions from faculty

How can students finish their coursework if they’re in isolation or quarantine?

Most courses will not have a standing remote participation option. Students who test positive and need to enter isolation, as well as students who need to quarantine because of a possible exposure to COVID-19, will be encouraged to reach out to their course faculty. Read the full FAQ here.

What should I do if I feel sick?

If you have symptoms of a fever, loss of smell or taste, cough, trouble breathing, or other symptoms of COVID-19, you should stay home and seek medical care. This article provides further details.