[VPAAEtal] IMPORTANT - Faculty Communication with Students

[Academic Affairs]

Colleagues
Yesterday, I wrote at the request of the Provost to clarify next steps to prepare for what is coming Monday.
I'm writing to remind everyone:  The most important thing you can do now is to email your students.
Once you have done so, notify your department head.  Heads and deans are keeping track of communications to ensure this step gets done ASAP.
That email should have some very basic points, depending on the situation.
1.)  If your course is online, your message should let them know it will continue without a hitch.
2.)  If your course was not previously online, your message should let them know that starting Monday it will be.  They need to be monitoring their email for instructions from you.
3.)  Any message should recognize the challenges that the current situation poses for all of us.  The students are at least as anxious about this as we.
4.)  If you are ready or able to set an assignment or task, do so.  The sooner everyone is back to work the better for all of us.
System and internal directives are meant for our consumption.  Please do not use them as part of your communication with students.  Students need a word from you, because you know best the situation for your courses.
The University had already obtained System blessing to move forward online Monday prior to the System message from the Chancellor.  The latter does not trump the former.
It does, however, establish a hard deadline for us all:  March 23 everything needs to be online.  Please let your department head know what you need in the way of support.
None of us wants to be in this situation right now, but we are.  Our job is to build and provide the best possible educational experience for our students under the circumstances.
If you have additional questions or concerns, please write me directly at Ricky.Dobbs at tamuc.edu<mailto:Ricky.Dobbs at tamuc.edu> .
Stay healthy and hopeful.
Ricky

Ricky Dobbs, Ph. D.
Professor of History
Associate Provost
903-468-8707

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