This is the first time I have ever sent a communication to faculty in the midst of summer. July is a time when most of us are typically happily engaged in reading, writing, mentoring, and research pursuits if we are not teaching. But this summer is different as we attempt to plan for every conceivable COVID-19-related consequence.
As I know that many of you are beginning to develop (or adapt) syllabi for fall, I wanted to provide you with information intended to address questions that I have been frequently asked by faculty. I also wanted to alert you to a series of monthly town halls for IUPUI, IUPUC, and IU Fort Wayne faculty that are intended to help ensure that channels of communication remain open and that my colleagues and I are able to address, to the best of our ability, faculty questions and concerns.
I do hope that you have been able to take at least a bit of time this summer to recharge, even if that has had to be from the safety of your own home and backyard. Thank you for all that you are doing to help support our students, and I look forward to seeing you again, even if that has to be through Zoom.
Thank you,
Kathy E. Johnson, Ph.D.
Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer
Professor of Psychology
A statement has been added to the Canvas syllabus tool to help faculty know what to do in the event a student shows up for class without a mask. It is expected that students will have signed the Student Commitment Form before coming onto campus. The syllabus statement is meant to assist you in the requirements in the commitment form. Briefly, the syllabus statement directs you to:
- Ensure all students attending class in person arrive wearing a mask over their mouth and nose.
- Ask students who do not have a mask to put one on.
- Request students not wearing a mask to leave the class if they refuse to wear one. File a report with the Office of Student Conduct. If the student refuses to leave, end the class immediately and file a report with the Office of Student Conduct.
- If a student comes to class a second time without a mask and refuses to put one on, ask the student to leave and let them know they can only attend the online version of the course (if such option is available) for the rest of the semester. File another report. If no online course is available, tell the student the in-person class is the only option and they must wear a mask.
- If the student appears for a third time without a mask after they are told they cannot attend in person, the student will be administratively withdrawn and will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. The student will not receive a refund of tuition or fees.
To find the syllabus statement, access your course in Canvas, then see the Canvas Syllabus tool. The supplement is added to the other statements issued by the campus and is found beneath the instructor’s syllabus and above the Course Summary generated by Canvas.
As a general reminder, the campus has an expectation on the use of Canvas by instructors at IUPUI. You can find information here.
Classroom Assistants
We realize that returning to the classroom with several different modes of delivery for instruction may add concern. It may be helpful to you to have help in the classroom with technology. These Strategies for Providing In-Person Classroom Assistance in AY 2020-21 provide options for a classroom assistant position. Please discuss these options with your department chair or program director. Efforts are also being made to create additional student positions through the Office of Student Employment, should schools not have sufficient numbers of student workers to address these needs.
Just-in-Time Course Design: A Faculty Learning Experience in NOW OPEN!
Feeling anxious about preparing your fall course in a new format? The Just-In-Time Course Design: A Faculty Learning Experience is for you! This is a badged professional development opportunity for faculty interested in learning more about teaching online, in-person with physical distancing, or a mix of online and in-person as they prepare for fall 2020. Participants will select from a variety of learning experiences which will be completed independently and include activities such as live and recorded webinars, online resources, readings, and application assignments in a Canvas site. Application assignments will require creating materials for their own courses and completing a reflection on their work.
IUPUI, IUPUC, and IU Fort Wayne instructors are eligible for the badge and $500 in professional development funds. Participants may work through the learning experience at their own pace, but they must submit all materials by August 31 to earn the badge and the associated funds.
Learn more about this experience and register.
Town Hall Series
IUPUI is in the process of preparing and implementing town hall meetings targeted for specific audiences. These town halls will be scheduled July through November, 2020, and will be convened by the appropriate campus leader. You may have attended the town hall on July 9 by Chancellor Paydar for faculty and staff. Other town hall audiences are IUPUI faculty (this includes faculty at IUPUC and IUFW), staff, students, Board of Advisors, and Chancellor’s Circle members.
Given that many IUPUI faculty are 10-month employees and not working during the summer, I will be holding the first faculty town hall on August 20. You will receive a separate email invitation with a registration link. The town halls will be done in webinar format. We will answer as many questions as we can during the town halls, and you are welcome to include your question when you RSVP. The town hall dates are as follows:
- Thursday, August 20 (2–3 p.m.)
- Tuesday, September 15 (1–2 p.m.)
- Thursday, October 22 (11 a.m.–12 noon)
- Wednesday, November 18 (3–4 p.m.)
Virtual Events in Fall 2020
