[VPAAEtal] Fall COVID Update for Academic Affairs

[Academic Affairs]

Academic Affairs Fall COVID Update
July 30, 2020

Each week until we are underway, the Provost's Office will post about progress toward preparing for Fall 2020 instruction.  Updates are based on the latest, best information.


*       This week representatives of CHSSA and COEHS met to discuss relocation and technological needs of their courses requesting a face-to-face component.  Some room changes resulted.  Day/times remained the same in all cases.  Room changes sought to bring the current and projected enrollments better in line with COVID room capacities.  So, for instance, a history section of forty assigned to a room now only able to hold six was moved to a room with a COVID capacity of 20.  Since the section meetings TR, the professor will be able to work with all students in the section each week.  COEHS and CASNR are slated for meetings next week.

*       Fine arts programs' varied room needs and cleaning needs were discussed at the CHSSA meeting.  Those departments will work with Dr. Scott and the EOC to develop further detailed plans for the fall.

*       COB's current in-person schedule (primarily the use of blended sections) will proceed without alteration.  Dr. Hayek's office will provide the COVID capacity of classrooms, and faculty can begin to plan syllabi around those capacities and communicate with students.

*       Consolidation of section locations will better enable the University to monitor cleaning and sanitization.

*       The Provost's office will communicate room changes thus far to the appropriate faculty Friday, July 31.

*       OAT send out a notification of resources to help faculty prepare their courses on Tuesday.  Additional notices about available trainings are forthcoming.  Faculty who are not used to teaching online or simply want to build skills are encouraged to take advantage of those.

*       Faculty should be engaged in the communication plan sent to department heads last week.  Students should receive at least two email communications from faculty by August 14.

*       A faculty working group has adopted the proctoring service Proctorio.  Funding for proctoring will be limited, and key areas will be prioritized for the use of the proctoring service.  Those priorities along with campus standards for use of Proctorio will follow shortly.
If you have specific questions, please feel free to email Ricky.Dobbs at tamuc.edu<mailto:Ricky.Dobbs at tamuc.edu> .

We are grateful for your cooperation and look forward to the coming semester.

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