July 2, 2020  |  Fall Implementation Team Updates

Sent to Academic Affairs staff on behalf of Provost Winebrake
Note:  The provost sent this to faculty on a separate email.  We are working on establishing an accurate distribution list for all of Academic Affairs.

Dear Colleagues, 

I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and well, and that you are finding time to enjoy the summer. This email provides one of our regular updates from the Fall 2020 Implementation Team regarding issues related to Academic Affairs. Below you will find a list of activities and progress for each of our Academic Affairs implementation groups. I want to thank them for their continued hard work on this very challenging problem. 

I also want to thank you all for your continued efforts around fall reopening. Everyone at the university has a part to play in the reopening, and we thank you for your contributions to this process. Please have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend! 

Best regards,
Jamie

Fall Implementation Plan Updates
2 July 2020

Fall 2020 Course Scheduling 

• Identified the overarching guiding principle of meeting health and safety guidelines, while working to offer as much face-to-face instructional experience as possible. 
• Collected faculty requests for flexibility in teaching modalities, and distributed results to chairs and directors.
• Determine revised room capacitates based on health and safety guidelines and distributed to schedule builders. 
• In consultation with chairs, directors, and faculty members, identified thirteen possible instructional methods, which included one face-to-face option, two online options (asynchronous and synchronous), and ten hybrid combinations.
• Worked with colleges and units to rebuild their academic course schedules, designate instructional method, accommodate faculty requests for flexibility, and assign classrooms. 
• Collaborated with the Registrar’s Office and units to annotate course delivery mode in Banner so that registration may resume on July 6 and notified students of registration date and student billing date week of July 6.
  

Faculty Policies and Procedures

• Met with Faculty Senate leadership and academic administrators to develop a collective response to issues related to health and safety requirements and course preparation as faculty members prepare Fall 2020 coursework.
• Incoming Provost distributed memo to faculty members outlining the following issues:
  • Required face coverings and additional health and safety considerations for off-site course delivery.
  • Course preparation guidelines including the need for online accessibility for individual students or whole class delivery. 
  • Reminder of course instructional minutes and satisfaction of SLOs to meet SACSOC requirements.
  • Directives regarding the release of syllabi to students one week before course begins to include description of course delivery, office hours, and technical equipment needed for successful online delivery.
  • Attendance considerations including encouragement to faculty to maintain maximum flexibility for quarantined students and the need for students to report illness to Student Health Center.
  • Course evaluations to proceed as scheduled at end-of-semester unless circumstances change significantly, at which time such procedures would be revisited. 
• Some policies located in the UNCW Faculty Manual will be considered for revision by Faculty Senate. These may include, but are not limited to 
  • “Permanent language” regarding postponement of RTP in certain circumstances.
  • Modify policy on instructional minutes to reflect current SACSOC recommendations to emphasize student learning objectives, particularly during times of campus closure when face-to-face instruction is interrupted.
  • Suspend requirement of course evaluations, but maintain as optional procedure, in atypical semesters.

High Impact Practices

• Emphasized the importance of maintaining high impact practices despite new challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Identified next steps:
  • Identity courses with an off-site component a­­­­­nd “tag” courses in Banner during/after revised schedule is posted.
  • Look for ways to incentivize co-curricular opportunities, using existing funds wherever possible.
  • Incentivize, promote, and enable virtual experiences in order to mitigate risks.
  • Involve multiple units on campus to discuss risk management strategies.
  • Develop appropriate protocols and documentation to employ before off-site locations are utilized. 
  • Communicate opportunities and protocols to faculty, staff, and students.
  • ​Collaborate with international partner network and research mentoring, virtual exchange, and guest lecture opportunities. 
  • Collaborate with schools in system and dialogue with counterparts in undergraduate research.​
  • Considering advising as a high impact practice, discuss with stakeholders the continuation of revised academic practices used in Spring 2020, such as P/F grade options, withdrawal policies, retention policy, etc.

Instructional Support and Compensation

• Disseminated survey to faculty to identify software applications to be added to the Horizon platform to replace in-person lab access. Results identified approximately thirty different software titles. The Office of Distance Education and eLearning plans to purchase many of the applications commonly requested and will look for ways to support singular faculty member requests.
• Increased summer programming to support faculty transition to instruction within the new parameters required for Fall 2020. The Office of Distance Education and eLearning and the Center for Teaching Excellence conceptualized ADAPT 2020, a four-day online conference, to help faculty prepare coursework for Fall 2020.
  • Conference dates: July 6-9, 2020 (9 am- 4 pm on Zoom) 
  • Registration opens July 2
  • Features 24 sessions. Faculty may attend any or all sessions and will receive recognition for their participation.
  • ADAPT 2020, and other opportunities for professional development through other sources, were outlined in an email from Diana Ashe, sent Monday 6/29/20 at 6:43 pm.
• AARM developed model for faculty compensation for revisions in course delivery due to COVID-19 circumstances. Eligible faculty members will receive $1000 per unique course preparation and should apply through InfoReady by July 6. (See link in email referenced above.)

Randall Library

• Planned for space and traffic flow in the library.
• Will make physical modifications to space July 6 – 31 to include:
  • Adjustment of furniture and technology for social distancing
  • Installation of Plexiglas barriers at service points 
  • Designation of traffic flow protocols and other signage to encourage health and safety ​practices
  • Addition of hand sanitizing stations at entrance and in high-touch areas​
  • ​Installation of technology to monitor occupancy
  • Modification of shared office environments
• Continue to promote online services through August
• Continue Library Liaison services to departments​
• Relaunch website with services​
• Guide library staff on implementation of new protocols (July 20 – 30)​
• Advertise Randall Library Hours for Fall 2020: 
  • August 4-14, Monday-Friday 8 am – 5 pm
  • Beginning August 15:

Research

• Developing a set of guidelines that consider the amount of space and activity type to accommodate new protocols in research spaces. 
  • PIs/Coordinators/Depts/Deans will apply these guidelines to determine the COVID- safe density.  (For example, the maximum density for chemistry lab work is likely different than in the human performance laboratory.)
  • Develop framework to assist PIs in developing contingency plans. Research spaces already have emergency plans for weather-related events.
• Working with Emergency Health and Safety Committee to develop a COOP process and are looking at other universities for strong models.

James J. Winebrake, Ph.D.
UNCW Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs
E: winebrakej@uncw.edu