Re: Fwd: Winter quarter instruction

[Robert <http://dummy.us.eu.org/robert>]

 > From: heather Howard <http://www.gmail.com/~hhoward40>
 > Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2020 16:53:55 -0800
 >
 > This is sheer insanity.  Why are they even attempting this?  

Time to invest in some more robust protective gear?:

 https://lifehacker.com/will-living-in-a-personal-bubble-protect-you-from-the-h-1845518079

 > > Begin forwarded message:
 > > 
 > > From: http://www.stanford.edu/~academic-continuity
 > > Subject: Winter quarter instruction
 > > Date: December 7, 2020 at 4:50:58 PM PST
 > > To: http://www.stanford.edu/~hlhoward
 > > Reply-To: http://www.stanford.edu/~academic-continuity
 > > 
 > > Dear Winter Quarter Instructors,
 > > 
 > > As you saw, the Provost has just announced some changes to the
 > > return of undergraduates for winter quarter. We are writing to
 > > follow up with information about how this affects your course
 > > plans.
 > > 
 > > First, the 
 > > <https://registrar.stanford.edu/academic-calendar>Academic
 > > <https://registrar.stanford.edu/academic-calendar>Calendar
 > > for Winter quarter has not changed. Please note, however, that
 > > instruction will still be largely remote, and the first two weeks
 > > of instruction will be fully remote, for all students at all
 > > levels.
 > > 
 > > Second, due to continued uncertainty about the course of the COVID-19 
 > > pandemic over the next few weeks, undergraduate students will return to 
 > > campus in two stages. 
 > > 
 > > Stage 1: All undergraduate students who have already been
 > > approved to be on-campus (academic and other exceptions) will
 > > return to campus as planned, beginning Monday, January 4. We
 > > anticipate that these students will be able to participate in
 > > in-person instruction, research, and independent study as early
 > > as Monday, January 25.
 > > 
 > > Stage 2: Frosh and sophomores will begin to return to campus
 > > between the evening of January 20 through January 24, before the
 > > third week of the quarter begins.  We anticipate that students
 > > arriving during stage 2 will only be able to begin in-person
 > > instruction beginning Monday, February 8.
 > > 
 > > In-Person Instruction
 > > All students arriving on campus must have 2 negative COVID-19
 > > tests and remain in quarantine for 2 weeks before they can meet
 > > with you or engage in any in-person activities.
 > > The county is currently in the purple tier, which means that no
 > > indoor classes are allowed unless they utilize specialized
 > > spaces. We anticipate that these conditions are likely to persist
 > > into the beginning of winter quarter.
 > > If you were previously approved to teach an undergraduate course
 > > in-person that can be taught remotely, we strongly recommend that
 > > you move your course online now. As a reminder, most
 > > undergraduates who will be on campus will not be able to attend
 > > an in-person class until at least the 5th week of the quarter.
 > > If you were previously approved to teach an undergraduate course
 > > in-person that cannot be taught remotely, your Dean's office or
 > > Unit Director will reach out to you to help you determine how to
 > > proceed.
 > > 
 > > The professional schools should plan on courses beginning
 > > remotely. A transition to in-person teaching in classrooms may be
 > > allowable later in the quarter as health and safety conditions
 > > improve.
 > > 
 > > Remote Instruction
 > > There is no change to remote instruction. 
 > > 
 > > Planning for Student Travel and Remote Participation
 > > If you are teaching a class that will include frosh and sophomore
 > > students, recognize that they will be traveling to campus
 > > beginning as early as January 20th if they are arriving from
 > > overseas.
 > > 
 > > Plan ahead: Students will need to be able to access any class
 > > material that they miss due while traveling.
 > > Therefore we ask that you: 1) Announce at the beginning of the
 > > quarter the means by which students can access material that they
 > > may miss on traveling days, and 2) Do not schedule graded
 > > quizzes, exams or other assessments between Jan 20th and 24th if
 > > at all possible as this provides flexibility for students who are
 > > traveling.
 > > As a reminder, many students may choose to not return to campus
 > > and may be participating in classes from other time zones. The
 > > best practice remains offering courses and/or course materials
 > > asynchronously when possible.  Students report that having to
 > > participate in synchronous classes and take exams in the middle
 > > of the night has a serious effect on their learning and
 > > well-being.
 > > 
 > > The Center for Teaching and Learning has developed numerous instructional 
 > > guides on  <https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/>Teaching
 > > <https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/>
 > > <https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/>Commons
 > > <https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/> that you may find useful.
 > > 
 > > Upcoming meetings about winter quarter instruction:
 > > We will be holding two informational sessions before the winter
 > > break to provide guidance for in-person and remote
 > > instruction. We encourage all in-person instructors to attend, as
 > > well as representatives from each school and program (e.g. DUS,
 > > DGS, and SSOs).
 > > 
 > > Thursday January 7, 1:00 to 2:30 pm, Zoom link TBD
 > > 
 > > Closing remarks:
 > > Please note that Stanford University is substantially closed for
 > > Winter break from December 14, 2020 to January 1, 2021. If you
 > > have an urgent issue that requires attention during this time,
 > > please email the academic continuity team at
 > > http://www.stanford.edu/~academic_continuity and include the word "URGENT"
 > > in the subject line. We will be responding to all other inquiries
 > > that arrive after December 11th when campus reopens on January 4.
 > > 
 > > We appreciate your ongoing collaboration and flexibility to meet
 > > our educational goals during these uncertain times. Your hard
 > > work and commitment this year has made a tremendous difference to
 > > our students.
 > > 
 > > Wishing you and your families a relaxing and refreshing holiday
 > > break. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!
 > > 
 > > Best,
 > > 
 > > Sarah Church, Freeman-Thornton Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
 > > Mary Beth Mudgett, Senior Associate Dean, H&S