Dear faculty colleagues,
Although weather conditions will improve during the next few days, the campus and region are experiencing ongoing infrastructure issues that continue to affect our communities. As temperatures rise, some pipes in buildings will need to be fixed. Many of you have urgent problems at home or uncertain internet connectivity. For these reasons, the campus will remain closed through Wednesday, February 24 at 8 a.m. Classes will also be cancelled Monday and Tuesday (with a few exceptions in Nursing and Dell Medical) as many of our faculty members and students will continue to be affected for several days. No assignments can be due Monday or Tuesday.
We will reevaluate conditions throughout the weekend and update you about our planning.
On Monday and Tuesday, faculty members may use this time creatively to keep students connected, but may not cover new and required material. No assignments can be due Monday or Tuesday. Faculty members may consider making optional lectures available, holding Zoom discussion sections during regular class times, offering group or individual office hours, or providing discussion materials. However, you are under no obligation to do so. Similarly, students are not obligated to participate in these activities. If you can, please record any lectures or materials you do produce so students can access them later. Please communicate your plans clearly to your students as soon as you are able.
As for the rest of the week, we need to prepare for a time of transition. Students will be coming back from serious adversity. You should consider delaying due dates for major exams or assignments this coming week. We realize that extended delays are tremendously disruptive to your class, but we are concerned that students may not be fully ready or prepared to perform on major assignments or exams.
Guidelines and suggestions about how to address missed class time and test schedules will be forthcoming. In the meantime, we are asking faculty members to begin preparing updated syllabi to reflect how your content and due dates will change for the remainder of the semester. How each faculty member chooses to do that will vary. Any adjustments you do make will need to be clearly communicated so students understand your expectations as required in HB 2504. Our goal is to have updated syllabi shared by March 1. I know you have your own pressing concerns right now at home, but I wanted to flag this request because it will be critical for students to understand their course obligations.
The university is working quickly to assess and address any damage to buildings on campus. We will update you on progress to restart research activities and other critical operations during the next few days. For those of you with experimental labs, Interim Vice President for Research Alison Preston will be messaging you separately about steps to take now and about the path to re-opening.
I hope you all are safe. I know many faculty members, students and staffers are still without power and water. We are fully focused to do everything possible to help our communities and appreciate your partnership to help our students during the coming days.
Sincerely,
Dan Jaffe