Dear Mining and Minerals Engineering students,

We are so excited to welcome our sophomores to the department and to welcome the upper classes back.  I’m sure you have some trepidation about the fall semester; there is much to be uncertain about.  I do want to assure you that our faculty, staff and graduate students have been working hard this summer to redesign courses for online and hybrid formats, and to design hands-on experiences with safety as our first priority.

One thing we aim to instill in our graduates is a strong appreciation of health and safety and the critical role that every person plays in a safe mining operation.  While I wish that none of us had a pandemic to cope with, this is an opportunity for you to develop and model your values around health and safety.  In a mine, a processing plant, or a drilling site, health and safety of the people that work there – and live nearby – is only achieved through a collaborative and intensive investment of time and effort.  I ask that you treat the campus and Blacksburg the same way this year, with care for all the members of our community. Wear a mask, sanitize often, follow pedestrian traffic flow patterns in buildings, wash your hands frequently, and follow the public health guidance issued by the university (www.ready.vt.edu) and CDC.

We are adaptable – in all of our planning for the coming semester we have considered how we might change our plans in a matter of days.  I have great confidence in our faculty and staff, and I find it quite humbling to work with such an intelligent and dedicated group of people – you are in good hands!

This summer has also highlighted a number of social justice issues that affect minorities in all corners of our nation, and the world. I want to be very clear that Black Lives Matter here in Mining and Minerals Engineering. We aim to improve our diversity and inclusion efforts with your help and ideas.  As mining engineers, it is likely that you will travel all over and work with all kinds of talented people. An appreciation for diversity and the experiences of others will be key to good management and to gaining social license to operate in the communities you serve.

One of the great advantages of a small department is the ability to get to really know you as individuals and foster a close community.  We remain committed to community, although it will look different this year.  There will be many opportunities for virtual events, and I look forward to seeing you there. I sincerely hope to use the challenges we face this year as an opportunity to improve and innovate, and to learn and to grow professionally and personally – I hope you will also.

You may contact me anytime with questions, concerns and suggestions – I look forward to working with you this year.

Glϋck Auf!

Kray Luxbacher, P.E., Ph.D.
Charles T. Holland Professor and Department Head
Mining and Minerals Engineering

Never heard “Glϋck Auf” before?  It is a traditional miners’ greeting that loosely translates to “may the lodes open” – today, in mining communities it is taken to mean “best wishes” or “have a safe and productive day”.