Dear Colleagues,
The Faculty Senate Executive Board recognizes that developing and adapting to the accommodations needed to protect the Chapman Community and society at-large from this new coronavirus poses some challenges. Although this may not be what we had in mind when we adopted the motto, “Anything Imaginable,” we know that we can all band together and share creative solutions that will allow us to continue to provide a high quality education for our students.
We respectfully request that you continue your commitment to our students and other stakeholders by doing your best to maintain a positive, pro-active approach to trouble-shooting and problem-solving in the days and weeks to come. No one relishes the situation, but we can make the best of it by minimizing anxiety and stress for the students and our colleagues. The University’s task force, under the leadership of Harold Hewitt, has done a lot of work to get things started, and the University is committed to assisting to the best of its ability. If you need help, please ask for it. If you have innovative ideas for how you plan to manage your courses, please share them.
A good clearinghouse for both getting help and proposing innovative responses is available through the Office of Information Systems & Technology, the IETL, and Educational Technology Services. The good folks there have already prepared several resources pages for faculty, and have shifted nearly all their staff members into support for students, faculty, and staff.
Some vital information is available on several new dedicated pages. Tutorial links are included in these resources, and more help can be found by contacting the Service Desk (servicedesk@chapman.edu) or Educational Technology Services (edutech@chapman.edu). It’s best to start with tools that are familiar, such as PowerPoint and Canvas or Blackboard, rather than trying to learn new tools in this crunch time. Also remember that not everything has to be solved on Day 1; plans for courses can emerge over time, as faculty and their students become more familiar with the resources.
Faculty are encouraged to use the “Readiness Checklist” to ask themselves important questions about their communication plan, their own and their students’ technological capabilities and bandwidth, and how their content and assignments will be delivered and received. The resources pages also offer helpful guidance on:
- Maintaining Communication with Students
- Sharing Content and Instructional Materials
- Creating Digital Content
- Creating Graded Assignments
- Creating Online Collaboration
- Hosting Online Meetings
- Fostering Student Engagement
Coronavirus: Updates and Resources – Faculty
Course Continuity Resource Page
The Tools for Working Remotely
Faculty should be prepared to be understanding and helpful towards students, staff, and colleagues, and rather than throw up our hands, we’re going to have to roll up our sleeves. We can handle this well if the faculty adopts an attitude that is accommodating, positive, and constructive. Our students and their families are looking to see if we can live up to the mission and vision that we claim for this institution, and we shouldn’t let them down.
Sincerely,
Ron Steiner, President
Alison McKenzie, Vice-President
Lynda Hall, Secretary
Randy Busse, Faculty Personnel Council
Tara Gruenewald, Faculty Development Council
Keith Weber, Long Range Planning Council
Eric Young, Undergraduate Academic Council
Hesham El-Askary, Graduate Academic Council
