Spring 2022 Newsletter

Needless to say, our students are coming through school and preparing to launch their careers in unprecedented times as we emerge from an era-defining pandemic, as they come to grips with issues of justice and fierce civil discourse, as they seek to establish lives and careers under inflation rates unseen for more than 40 years, and as they (like all of us) wonder how war might play out in Europe with far-reaching consequences, as if the usual stresses of getting through school aren’t enough.  Many are entering the workforce facing uncertainty over their future and how best to prepare. Of course, employers, too, may be wondering what to expect of recent graduates, and whether their organization will be able to maintain a workforce sufficient to meet the demand for their products and services. In FREC, we stand in the middle of much of this uncertainty surrounding the future workforce in our field. I want to assure you that through these times, as always, our faculty and staff are committed to a continuing tradition of providing the best critical thinking, problem solving, hands-on education possible for preparing our students for critically vital careers in forestry and environmental resources, including an increased emphasis on professional skills. Above all, though, we are all in this together, and sticking together and working together is the most important thing we can do.

Jay