Dear Faculty: Classes start next week and I look forward to welcoming our students back into our classrooms. As many of you know, I am teaching this semester on Wednesday nights. Since I am in a different classroom with all new technology, I had the opportunity to do a classroom tour last Friday. I want to thank all of the Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) and the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) staff who supported that tour and training. I realize again and again the good fortune we have with access to our technology experts like Justin Sell, Jeremiah Cory, Lydia Strong, and Abra Clawson who patiently led me through the nuances of my classroom. Then there was my CTL faculty teaching fellow, Laura Almstead, Senior Lecturer in College of Agriculture and Life Sciences who generously shared her advice on how to make the classroom work for all of my students since I will have both at-home and in person learners. A big thank you to ETS and CTL support staff and the CTL faculty teaching fellows for their support of all our faculty.

I am also reading in the Chronicle what many professors are learning from their experience teaching during the pandemic. There seems to be added value to students when we record and post our lectures, which I have done for several years and plan to continue to do through Teams. Recording lectures can also help our students who cannot attend class due to quarantine or isolation protocols. Check out the reflections from Patrick D. Culbert, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, in his Chronicle of Higher Education article entitled “When this is All Over, Keep Recording Your Lectures.”

As always, I want to reinforce and offer some important information that I hope will be helpful to you.

  • I have asked Cynthia Reyes, Associate Professor in the Department of Education and Jilliene Rodriguez, Director of Diversity, Engagement, and Professional Development in the Division of Student Affairs to lead a Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Co-Curricular Working Group. The group will identify opportunities for the more intentional and impactful engagement of our undergraduate and graduate students in co-curricular diversity activities that support and enrich their academic experiences.
  • Many of you received a message from your dean this week reminding you that contingency planning is critical to ensuring the health and safety of our community and the continuity of instruction in this pandemic. The UVMStrong Faculty and Academic Affairs working group is asking all faculty to consider how they can ensure the continuity of instruction in their classes should they need to isolate or quarantine. In addition, they are asking faculty who are teaching in-person and mixed courses to consider how they might continue instruction for a period of time if in-person activities were to be suspended. As always, our faculty development units can help you think through how you would accomplish this transition.
  • As you finalize your syllabi for the start of classes next week, please take a step back to consider the overall rhythm of your course, including scheduling of assessments, and points where you might need to check in on students’ understanding of the material before moving forward. With reading/respite days placed throughout the semester instead of a spring break, be kind to your students and to yourselves and set a pace that you will be able to maintain, with some flexibility built in to manage the unexpected.
  • Please let your students know that indoor spaces where they can participate in remote classes or study will be available this spring. These spaces supplement quiet study in the libraries and multi-use study/dining spaces in the heated outdoor tents. All of these classroom study spaces will be CATcard access only, and will be open during building hours, Monday through Friday:
    • Cohen 119 – 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
    • Morrill 010 – 7:00 am to 7:30 pm
    • Terrill 108 – 7:00 am to 10:00 pm
    • Terrill 308 – 7:00 am to 10:00 pm
    • Lafayette L200 – 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
    • Stafford 101 – 6:45 am to 6:00 pm
    • Old Mill Annex A207 – 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
    • John Dewey Lounge Old Mill/Lafayette – 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
  • I want to make sure you’ve seen these important recent communications:

Spring 2021 Campus Updates which provides a summary of the updates and information related to our spring opening and health and safety plans.

Spring 2021 Guidelines for Academic and Non-academic Visitors which provides an update to the fall 2020 visitor restrictions and exception process.

Search for the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion which shares news about our plans for a national search for Dr. Wanda Heading-Grant’s successor.

  • You can find detailed information on COVID-19 tests administered and results on the Weekly Testing Report. Last week’s student test results included 25 off-campus positives and 6 on-campus positives out of 3,050 tests. Last week’s faculty and staff test results included 8 positives out of 987 tests. As you know, new and more contagious strains of the virus have emerged. Please recommit to all COVID-19 safety precautions and practices and refrain from travel and gathering. Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to participate in regular testing.

My apologies for mistakenly attributing to Socrates the quote about change in last week’s digest.  It actually came from a book written by Dan Millman, a world class athlete, author, and speaker. The corrected digest can he found here.

I wish you a successful semester. Students are excited about their return and are ready for class. I know you will provide them with a productive learning experience whether they are here in person or are joining your class virtually. Let’s keep connected with our students this semester and remember that so often, you are the difference-makers for them.

Warmly,
Patty