Dear colleagues,
To say that the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the ways we teach, conduct research, and learn would be an understatement. I recognize the continuous need to be flexible, accommodate others, while supporting your families and friends can take a toll on our own well being. Through it all, I have admired your many accomplishments and continued commitment to our students and our academic mission.
As President Mangelsdorf and I communicated in our earlier message, many of the health and safety protocols we have in place will allow us to begin the Spring semester as scheduled, and with in-person instruction, the best we can. Through your continuous and dedicated efforts, and with the benefit of vaccine and booster mandates, as well as our masking requirements, our classrooms continue to be exceptionally safe environments for our students and faculty. This note is to help give additional specifics in terms of expectations and areas to find support.
Online Access Throughout the Semester
While quality in-person instruction is our goal, we must also make classes accessible to students who are in isolation. To accomplish that, online access will be required for each class session through the month of January, and ongoing if you have any students who are in isolation because of COVID. Typically, that online access includes live Zoom calls or other videoconferencing for virtual attendance and course materials made available through Blackboard or other file sharing services. I recognize that this might be a considerable change from your typical teaching practices, but the situations we are facing with COVID-19 and the increasingly present Omicron variant are requiring us to think differently and plan for a possible spike in infections. As a reminder, there are several resources available to assist with this requirement, including tutorials for using Zoom and answers to frequently asked questions about online teaching. It is important to note that these accommodations are meant to supplement, rather than replace, in-person instruction.
I also recognize that many schools and departments have developed their own resources and support tools to help with online and hybrid learning environments. I invite you to share with me what has worked for you and your colleagues so that we can continue to build a knowledge base for the entire university. Specific further assistance is also available through your school or unit’s IT departments, and the University’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) offers helpful methods for effective synchronous and asynchronous instruction.
Monitoring Compliance
We recognize that you may encounter situations where students are not wearing masks or do not seem to be following the University’s other safety guidelines. You can remind them that adherence to those guidelines is a requirement for being on campus, and that information about all of the mandatory protective measures is available online. If a student shows up to class without a mask you can, and should, ask them to leave until they can find a mask and return prepared to learn.
Self-Care
Most importantly, a note about care. If you are not feeling well, please contact your primary care provider and be sure to discuss any isolation requirements. After contacting your provider, if you have a positive COVID test, please notify your dean (and department chair, if appropriate) to make arrangements you might need for your research and teaching. If appropriate, and you are feeling well enough, you should make plans to teach your classes online.
I am confident that we will continue to rise to the challenges of this pandemic, and that our commitment to our students and their learning will ensure a healthy and vibrant University community. I also know I have days, like I am sure many of you do, when I feel tired and remember the work prior to COVID. Please let me know what the provost office can do to support you. I continue to be impressed and grateful for our team of deans who advocate and care about all of our faculty, and want to do what we individually and collectively can to support your flourishment. Remember, the University’s COVID-19 Resource Center is an important resource that includes the latest updates and information. I encourage you to check the resource center regularly, and to reach out to your dean with any questions.
I sincerely wish you a successful, productive, and healthy Spring semester.
Sincerely,
Sarah Peyre
Interim Provost