Sent on behalf of Dr. Mark Ginn, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Greetings Faculty,
As the fifth week of the Fall 2020 semester draws to a close, we in Academic Affairs thank you for the incredible work you have done as we continue to provide a quality educational experience to our students in new and different ways, while working to maintain the health and safety standards and protocols placed before us. We wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your work, both the work you have already done, and the work that we know you will continue to do. We would also like to offer the following suggestions for your courses with online components, based on feedback we have received from students, faculty, and advisors:
- Try to find ways for students to have interaction and to build community. For synchronous classes this may include breakout rooms or other arenas where they can interact with each other. For asynchronous courses look for ideas on the CAE website: https://cae.appstate.edu/teaching-learning-student-success/online-teaching.
- Keep in mind that many students are spending several hours per day online (as are many of you). Giving some flexibility on when they complete some tasks may be helpful.
- If you have concerns about students who are not participating or not attending class, we have many resources that can help including the Dean of Students Office, the Early Intervention Team, and the Office of Student Success. See our Quick Referral Guide for more information: https://studentsuccess.appstate.edu/faculty-staff/quick-referral-guide.
- If your students are struggling with academic content, the Student Learning Center or the University Writing Center can help with Help Labs, Small Group Tutoring, Peer Academic Coaching, or Writing Consultations, all available online. See our Keep Learning page at https://studentlearningcenter.appstate.edu/about/keep-learning for these and other resources to help your students.
- If your class is asynchronous, please remember that there is no one time when you can expect to meet with all of your students. Many signed up after your course time was removed and it is unreasonable to think that they are available at a single time. This includes a single exam time. Asynchronous courses with no course time have no fixed time for their final exam. You should make arrangements for an asynchronous option or use extreme flexibility.
In closing, I want to thank all of you for your work in these challenging times. We encourage you to reach out to your students and let them know we are here for them and have resources to help them succeed. I also urge you to take care of yourselves and your families and to know together we will get through this.
Thanks for all you do,
Mark