From Dr. Michael D. Johnson, UCF Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Colleagues:
The Board of Governors, to minimize health risks from COVID-19, has directed state universities to move courses to remote delivery and advise students not to return to campus following spring break. Today, UCF advised students to remain away from campus for two weeks starting Monday, March 16. Under current plans, which are fluid, students are to return on Monday, March 30. Faculty and other employees are to report to work as usual (unless the travel restrictions apply).
All current online courses will continue as usual. Courses in other modalities, including face-to-face, will be canceled Monday and Tuesday. Faculty teaching other modalities must take steps to make them available to students online by Wednesday, March 18. Online teaching will be required for at least two weeks.
This has been a rapidly evolving situation, and today’s information is different from what you received only yesterday. Because of that, we ask and expect that you will frequently check your email and the UCF Coronavirus website for updates.
Meanwhile, beginning immediately, the following is required:
â Take steps to move your face-to-face and other courses to fully online delivery by Wednesday, March 18, using the resources below. Explore the resources, experiment with options, and seek help as needed from the Webcourses@ucf support team (https://cdl.ucf.edu/support/webcourses).
â Review the new “Keep Teaching” website, which offers options to help you move courses online as easily as possible. Resources include self-paced training on online course essentials.
â Watch the “Getting Started” workshop video. A recorded session will be available on the “Keep Teaching” website before the end of this week. If it is not posted when you access “Keep Teaching,” please continue checking as the site is periodically updated.
â Consider joining additional workshops next week that will allow faculty to ask questions. While these sessions will be offered live at the Faculty Multimedia Center (Main Campus, CB1-202), faculty are encouraged to follow social distancing guidelines and attend remotely:
— Tuesday, March 17, 3-4 p.m.
— Wednesday, March 18, 2-3 p.m.
— Thursday, March 19, 10-11 a.m.
— Friday, March 20, 2-3 p.m.
No registration is required. Each workshop will be live-streamed on the “Keep Teaching” website and recorded for review. Additional workshops will be scheduled as needed.
â Consider “open lab” assistance. The Webcourses@ucf support team will be on-site in the Faculty Multimedia Center (CB1-202) for individual walk-in support this week and next. For remote support sessions, please set an appointment.
We will continue to keep you informed of new developments. Remember, for the latest updates (not only about teaching), see UCF’s Coronavirus website.
I appreciate your flexibility during this difficult time and ask that you please be creative over the next two weeks in providing a high-quality experience. Finally, please have compassion for students for whom this will be a challenge.
Thank you.
