Dear Colleagues:
As a faculty you are being called on to respond to a global public health crisis in many ways. Instructors who may not have anticipated moving courses online are being asked to not only envision what this could look like but to do so in the next few weeks.
The university calendar we have been using to plan our courses has shifted. We hear of those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and are fearful for their health and that of their families and we wonder when that exposure may directly affect our campus. And you are also caring for yourself and your family members while simultaneously engaging in a heavy lift at work. It is absolutely normal to feel a range of emotions, including frustration, anxiety, sadness, and fear.
Know that you are part of a larger community. As noted in Provost Wu’s email yesterday, many resources are available to support you as you transition your courses to the online space as well as resources to support you as an individual.
Engage in self-care as you need it and encourage your students to do the same. Check in with one another. As we deploy social distancing, people are not being asked to completely avoid campus; indeed, campus will still be open and staff are around to provide support for you. Be safe but stay connected.
Our community is strong. Reach out, take advantage of all of the resources available, including your colleagues and friends. Information will continue to be shared from the Provost’s Office and the college and schools’ Deans’ Offices on a regular basis. Each of those communications will have contact information for specific questions; do feel free to reach out as you have questions.
As the global and local situations unfold, our community will continue to pull together and support one another. You as faculty are creative and resourceful; our students benefit from working with you in whatever modality available. I am appreciative of you, the work you do, and the dedication you have to student learning.
Take good care.
Shannon Davis
Chair, Faculty Senate