Email to Faculty from VPAA Dahlberg 3/17/20
Faculty Presence
Good Afternoon!
I hope you are finding the work required to move your classes online do-able. Please remember that we do have resources on campus, should you need assistance. Earlier today you received an offer of assistance from our librarian, should you need to gather digital materials for your class; Tony Wendell and Jackie Owen remain available to offer course tools support; you have material from Dr. Boe (see email last Friday) to help you work with Bb Collaborate, should that be the system you choose for class interaction.
Please email these folks for assistance/appointments, so they can set up an online meeting with you or arrange to visit in person if you and they are both comfortable with that arrangement.
I would like to clarify the issue of faculty presence on campus: since the campus is open, it is your decision whether you work in your office or not. Don’t feel you have to carry all your office library home with you, or find another place with WiFi if your home is not a good working environment.
Be sure to contact the students in all your classes on or before next Monday, to clarify how your course will meet (will it be synchronous? On Bb Collaborate? What if they can’t “meet” at the time you have set up?) and how they should contact you for quick turn-around.
Communication with our students during a time like this is incredibly important—they need to know that we still care about them as individuals and we are dedicated to their learning and success.
- Aim for a 24 hour or less response rate for any student email
- Use course announcements to keep students organized
- Be sure to grade materials promptly, so students receive feedback on their work
- Try to communicate your personality and your passion for the material via digital means, so students feel a continued connection to you
Please do your best to make this a good experience for our students. Reach out if you need support. And believe me when I say that I appreciate your dedication to our students and VCSU: you are the heart of what makes this campus special.
Margaret