REMOTE TRANSITIONS NEWSLETTER
March 27, 2020 |
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Letter from Aurelie and Shelley |
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Dear Department,
Welcome to the second edition of the Remote Transitions Newsletter. Below, you’ll find links to resources for faculty and students, information and action items from the Department of English and the Writing Program, and a roundup of announcements from across the university.
This has been a difficult time for all the reasons you are aware of and our goal with this newsletter and other communiqués is to keep you informed to the best of our ability. Alas, we are aware that directives have rolled out in ways that are sometimes conflicting! What we're referring to is below, there are changes related to:
- Tracking non-participating students,
- Preparing for teaching continuity, and
- Submitting updated syllabi.
We’re sorry about this and hope to nip it in the bud. Happily, we have a couple of (eased up!) updates/revisions on University and College mandates related to teaching continuity plans and what to do if students have been “missing” since Spring Break. We also have directions on how to submit your updated syllabi (a University requirement). See below for all that.
If you do have any news you’d like us to share in the next newsletter, please forward with “NEWSLETTER” in the email subject line, to asheehan@arizona.edu or rrodrigo@arizona.edu.
Stay well and be good to each other!
Our best, Shelley & Aurelie
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A Quick Guide to this Edition |
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Folks, take this one idea, technology, one activity at a time. Don’t try to consume all these resources at once. Return to them when you need ideas or help.
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Please share these with students!
Technology & learning support
Mental health support
Additional resources & information
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ACTION: REQUIRED WORK and INFORMATION FROM ENGLISH & WP
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Non-Participating Students
The University is requiring that we collect information about students who are not participating.
ASAP we need instructors to assess which students have not participated in any way with the new remote class format or reached out to the instructor saying they cannot participate online. Please email the student and ask if the student needs any additional support to continue in the class. If the instructor either learns of a barrier to the student’s remote participation OR does not hear from the student by Wednesday, 3/25, please see the following relevant information:
New for English (not Writing Program):
The Dean of Students (DOS) has asked us to use its “concerned about a student page” to reach out about any student who has either not been attending, has not communicated with you since break, or any other issue of concern.
- For less than 3 students in a single course, please use the online referral form here :https://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/support/concerned-about-student
- if you have a list of 3 or more students, you may share, as alternative to the single form, the students’ first and last names, ID#, and the course number, title, and section number of your class and send that directly to Chrissy Lieberman (ceagan@arizona.edu).
- You can also call (520) 621-7057 to speak with DOS staff about your concerns.
Writing Program:
Complete the following form that provides student names and course numbers. We will forward that information on to the Dean of Students. The form: https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4VGwV4h3OrdyyJn |
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SBS is suggesting that we have teaching continuity plans for instructors who are no longer able to teach.
If you are feeling “flu-ish,” especially if you might not be able to continue with teaching your courses, please email:
Undergrad English: Sharonne Meyerson, sharonne@arizona.edu
Grad English: Marcia Simon, mmarma@arizona.edu
Writing Program: Sara Vickery, sev@arizona.edu
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Updated Syllabi
The University is requiring that we collect updated syllabi for every course. All instructors must submit revised syllabi for their courses as a result of the transition to teaching online for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester by Monday March 30. This applies to all graduate and undergraduate courses. At a minimum, the information they are requesting be updated is:
- Announcement of how and when you are available for office hours (phone, Zoom etc)
- Updated grade distribution
- Revised calendar/schedule
There are two options for providing the needed information:
Option 1: Update Existing Syllabi
Since many of you have already submitted syllabi to the Department and/or Writing Program you can update your existing syllabi document for each course you are teaching with the needed information and send to the appropriate contact listed at the end of the email. Please rename the updated syllabi document to include your first and last name, course and the date to reflect the new version. Example: Shepherd_Anne_ENGL102_March2020.
Option 2: Provide Needed Information in New Document
If you prefer not to update your current syllabus, you can provide the needed information in a new document. Please create a new Word Document using the template below. If you have multiple courses for which this information needs to be updated please create an individual Word Document for each course.
- First and Last Name
- Course:
- Semester:
- Office Hours: Announcement of how and when you are available for office hours (phone, Zoom etc)
- Grade Distribution:
- Revised calendar/schedule
Please name each document to include your first and last name, course and the date to reflect the new information.
Example: Shepherd_Anne_ENGL102_Section#_March2020. If possible, please convert your Word Document to a PDF.
Please send your updated syllabi or new documents to the contact relevant to the course(s) you are teaching. This may mean you will be sending separate documents to more than one of the listed contacts.
Writing Program Courses (ENGL 101A, 101, 102, 106, 107,108, 109H, 306, 307, 308, 313)
Email: engl-writing@arizona.edu
**Please address questions to Anne Shepherd at annes1@arizona.edu
Undergraduate & Graduate Courses
Email: sharonne@arizona.edu
**Please address questions to Sharonne Meyerson sharonne@arizona.edu
Remember to also upload your updated syllabus to your D2L site and be certain to review these files with your students. Please send by Monday, March 30.
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- English Honors Theses can be submitted electronically. English Honors theses turned in to the department will not be required to be hard copy this semester.
- Signatures for signature pages are not necessary, but can be digital if students prefer that formality. Theses should be submitted to sharonne@email.arizona.edu
- Deadline is May 6th. Completed theses should be turned in to Sharonne by the last day of classes, 5/6/20. The Honors College deadline is also May 6th.
- English Honors Graduation Event is canceled. The UG office is considering options for conferring recognition remotely.
- Thesis format/examples are available electronically. An email will go out to students later this month about formatting guidelines and the availability of example theses.
- University Honors College students should monitor Honors College requirements/announcements. Please remember that many of our English Honors students are also Honors College students. The above policies and announcements only apply to English Honors. Honors College students should make sure that they are complying with the Honors College requirements.
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English
All summer courses beginning in May or June must be converted to online. We have contacted everyone we believe to be affected by this, but please let Paul H. know if he missed someone.
Summer courses beginning in July should be prepared to convert to online. The university hasn't given word about this, but instructors should be aware that it is a possibility that their courses will be converted. If instructors in the second sessions want to go ahead and convert to online now, please let Paul (jphurh@arizona.edu) and Sharonne (sharonne@arizona.edu) know. |
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Writing Program
Next week Sara V. will be sending out the summer teaching survey again (we know summer plans have changed for many and wanted to collect updated information). Most WP classes will be offered online. Please read the message sent out on wp_admin on 3/25.
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Forwarded & Synthesized Announcements from Upper Administration
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Revised Academic Grading and Eligibility Policies
If you have not already done so, please read the Provost’s original message which includes details about:
- Pass/Fail Grading
- Course Withdrawal
- Grade Replacement Opportunity and Repeating a Course
- Undergraduate Academic Eligibility
- Incomplete Grades
Especially in regards to the new information about Pass/Fail
Please be aware that students have received the same message from the Provost’s office. It is not the responsibility of instructors to contact students, and they don’t even need to let instructors know because it is handled through the registrar. Students need to communicate with the Registrar with their intention to change to P/F. Instructors might want to periodically check UAccess grade rosters for students who have switched to P/F.
In addition, some colleges, programs, and degrees will translate P/F depending on parameters separate from transfer and articulation requirements; for example, transfer credits will be accepted as P/F, or may not transfer depending on assigned grade, in some instances. Students should refer to the P/F Grading FAQ page for Spring 2020 revised policies for more information (click here for that page).
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SBS Tech Support
We just wanted to reach out and let you know that SBSTech is here to help!
Following the CDC guidance on preventing the further spread of the Coronavirus, SBSTech has moved to a remote support model for the time being. We will set up in-person appointments at the SBSTech office as needed.
Click out for more information about:
- An Important Security Update/Internet Scams
- SBS Studio (open by appointment!)
- Equipment & Other Resources Available
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Proctored Exams
Our current online proctoring solution, Examity, had to close their proctoring offices in India on Sunday, March 22 due to the COVID-19 virus.
This closure will be in place until at least March 31. All proctored exams using a live proctor to authentic students into an exam have been halted at this time until we move to an automated solution. We are working with Examity on a fully automated proctoring solution that will be available the week of March 30.
If you would like to talk to an Instructional Designer about alternative assessment approaches, we have Instructional Design support on call that can help you. You can reach them here: https://oia.arizona.edu/ or via email at intech@arizona.edu.
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P&T Update From SBS/Mika
The highlighted text is updated information from Mika as an SBS response to what was shared last week.
(1) All promotion, continuing status, tenure and award review decisions are anticipated to stay on regular timelines.
Requests for tenure-clock delays for those who have mandatory review in 2020-2021 must be submitted no later than June 30, 2020.
New: faculty now have the option of also sending Section 6 (Teaching Portfolio) and/or Section 8 (Service/Outreach Portfolio) to external reviewers. (See item #5 in the letter to external reviewers.) My suggestion for those interested is to consider including only the items that would go to the college and university, rather than the supporting material that has traditionally been available only to the unit committee (syllabi, grading rubrics, and other artifacts).
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Convocations and Commencement
Sent to students...
Convocations and Commencement cannot take place in-person as originally scheduled in May 2020. This decision includes all celebrations and convocations in Tucson, Phoenix, Yuma and Sierra Vista. For the May 15 celebration, we are planning an alternate graduation experience for you and your families. Updates will be available at commencement.arizona.edu starting Friday, March 27. |
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Domestic Out-of-State Travel Update
Effective immediately, all non-essential domestic out-of-state academic and business travel for University of Arizona faculty, staff, and students is suspended, and will not be authorized until further notice, due to the current outbreak of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). If travel is deemed as essential, approval will need to be obtained from the appropriate Senior Vice President responsible for your unit. If you are returning to campus from business travel, and in particular if you have visited places that have known COVID-19 community spread, you are strongly urged to self-quarantine at home for two weeks following guidelines from the CDC. Please visit https://www.arizona.edu/coronavirus-covid-19-information for updates.
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Data Visualization Challenge
Amy Kimme Hea requested to share the information about the Data Visualization Challenge with undergrad and graduate students. |
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UA Center for Regional Food Studies
Given new instructions limiting travel, events, and in-person classes at the University of Arizona, those of us at the UA Center for Regional Food Studies are thinking deeply about the impacts of these disruptions on the campus community. We propose holding an emergency *virtual* roundtable meeting on Wednesday, April 1st from 12:00-1:30 pm to evaluate who is most negatively impacted at these times and brainstorm ideas for addressing concerns. We are also considering circulating a survey to gather more information about the challenges different groups face at this time. In the meantime, we also welcome your ideas for contacts of WHO should be involved in this conversation; HOW to evaluate impacts; and WHAT we might be able to do about it through pooling unused funds and resources, or other organizing efforts. Send your thoughts to Laurel Bellante, assistant director of CRFS, at bellante@email.arizona.edu |
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Personal Health & Well-Being
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Thanks to folks who have shared materials! If folks want to share“
personal health & well-being resources” email Shelley R. (rrodrigo@arizona.edu) or Maribeth S. (maribeths1@arizona.edu) with materials to share in future newsletters. |
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Counseling Services
While our employee assistance counselors are not available in person because of the reduced on-site campus operations, employees and their covered dependents have telehealth and e-counseling access through their EPO and PPO insurance plans. Working with the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA), we were able to secure an agreement for waived copays for medical services and mental health visits through telehealth and e-counseling visits at this time for three of our four insurance carriers.
These include:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield – download BlueCare Anywhere
- Cigna – download AmWell or MD Live
- UnitedHealthcare – download AmWell or Teladoc (Also covers UA Alternative plan)
- Aetna – download Doctor on Demand. (Copay for e-counseling not waived at this time)
If the copay waiver for telehealth and e-counseling with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, or UnitedHealthcare does not work, please call ADOA at 1-800-304-3687 and ask to be connected with your dedicated insurance vendor. Employees on the domestic partner plan should call UnitedHealthcare at 1-800-357-0971. |
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Sick and Backup Childcare
Trusting Connections, the University’s backup childcare provider, is continuing to provide services when regularly scheduled childcare is not available. Registration is required for employees and students. Call 520-448-0873 or email info@trustingconnections.com for more information.
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Other Employee Assistance & Services
To schedule a telephone or video consultation, please contact the providers listed below directly by email:
- Adult and elder care consultations: Eileen Lawless, MSW, elawless@arizona.edu
- Childcare and parenting consultations: Lourdes A. Rodríguez, MS, lrodriguez1@arizona.edu
- Nutrition and health coaching: Cindy Davis, MPH, RDN, cldavis@arizona.edu
- Please do not hesitate to contact Josephine Corder, UA Director of Life & Work Connections, with any questions.
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Other Resources & Suggestions
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