Message to Faculty

March 13, 2020

From Anupma Prakash, provost and executive vice chancellor

Dear UAF faculty and instructors,

If you have not already, please take a moment to read President Johnsen’s COVID-19 update from yesterday, March 12. It is important to note that for students, next week is an extended week of spring break. There are no classes next week, online or otherwise. This is according to President Johnsen’s academic course alternate delivery policy.

We are extending spring break for students by one week to allow faculty time to prepare their courses for alternative delivery methods. That means there will be no classes (face-to-face or other modalities) from now through March 22. Employees should return to work unless affected by restrictions established in separate guidance.

The president’s memo states that “starting March 23 and potentially for the rest of the semester, most UAF courses will be offered using alternate delivery methods (online, audio-conference or web-conference, etc.) rather than traditional classroom instruction. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the chancellors for clinical, lab, and other hands-on courses where ‘social distance’ and other personal safety measures can be assured. In addition, we are working to address issues such as computer access and other student needs in ways that maintain social distance.”

All requests for such exceptions should be discussed and approved by your dean prior to submitting to me using the Academic Continuity Exception Form. In requesting an exception please indicate how you will assure that the same learning opportunity will be extended to every student enrolled in the course. Requests that come from CRCD and CTC faculty through this form are also reviewed by the VC-RCNE, Evon Peter, and faculty will not have to submit another approval form.

Please make use of next week to begin to plan for online or distance delivery of your course or courses beginning March 23.

If you are interested in teaching via distance synchronous delivery (webconference, or audioconference) and need assistance, please contact OIT or visit their virtual campus website for support.

If you are interested in developing your course for fully online delivery, UAF eCampus can help. Please view this video from eCampus Executive Director Owen Guthrie. In addition to providing online self-guided resources, UAF eCampus is offering a series of Blackboard bootcamp workshops next week, and will be available for walk-in service hours from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. from Sunday to Friday. If you are off-campus there are also virtual open labs you can attend. Please take a moment and visit the eCampus instructional continuity website to find more information, sign up for a workshop session or book an appointment.

As you can see, there are several good options for you to get the help and support you need to make this transition.