SUBJECT: One More Fall Prep Message!

Dear Colleagues,

Sorry to be hitting you with yet another email, but as term approaches, we are continuing to sort things out in order to be as helpful to you as possible…

• Faculty Support

  • The Office of the Dean of Students, on behalf of Student Affairs, will be sending a “virtual goody bag” to all faculty early next week. This will provide faculty not only with resources for your own self-care, but also robust information about supporting students during this difficult time with issues like mental health and wellness, food insecurity and much, much more! Feel free to start browsing some of the resources on this webpage where you’ll find helpful information and resources ranging from self-care tips to a UM-Dearborn Virtual Mental Health Care Package! 

• New Canvas Commons Resources: UM-Dearborn Remote Learning

  • The library's six Remote Learning Basics videos are complete and now available in Canvas Commons under "UM-Dearborn Remote Learning." 

Faculty, staff, and students can preview all six on a new library page.

Just click on any of the accordion options to view the bite-sized modules. In Canvas, the modules include quizzes. Faculty will be able to incorporate components, modify as needed, or use them all as their course progresses. The modules are also licensed with Creative Commons - Share Alike so they can be shared, modified, and adapted. (They do have the UM-Dearborn logo!)

I am grateful to the team in the Mardigian that worked on these: Chris Spilker, Kelsey Parker, Sophia McFadden-Keesling, Raya Samet, and Joel Seewald, for all the work they did to produce resources that are engaging and student-centered.Thanks too to Marie Waung and faculty in Foundations who offered feedback in the process. 

• Teaching With Face Coverings - for those coming to campus! 

  • It will take some getting used to… but this Inside Higher Ed article on teaching face-to-face with a face covering provides helpful insights and ways to connect to students while wearing a face covering. Likewise, Indiana University highlights some tips for faculty to utilize. Finally, East Carolina University has developed a wonderful video that provides information on overcoming challenges of teaching while wearing a face covering. 

  • EHS also has a limited supply of clear face coverings available for faculty members who would like to try this option. Some of our initial feedback suggests that the advantage of the clear view of the mouth comes with some challenges such as greater fogging, heat buildup, and sound reverberation. Faculty members interested in this option should contact Tom Perez.

• Reminder: On-campus Course Waitlisting Change 

  • Given expert guidance about safe levels for classroom density, our traditional waitlist practice — in which students could attend a class before being formally registered for it —  will be discontinued for the fall term. Students in this situation are being advised to reach out to faculty members or academic advisors for guidance. In addition, you will not be empowered to add students to exceed your course enrollment capacity. Each classroom has painstakingly been set up to have the appropriate and safe number of seats: please do not move furniture in (or out).  

• Faculty Workspace - Coming September 1st! 

• Clean, socially distanced, and quiet space in which to think, prep, and write will be available in the University Center.  Please click on the scheduling page to reserve a space!

• What Should I Do …. 

  • If a student informs me that they have (or think they may have) COVID?

    • The Emergency Operations Center team and Dean of Students Amy Finley recommend that faculty should either:

      • Refer the student to [email protected] and 313-593-5056, or 

      • Contact Amy’s office directly, and they will reach out to the student.  

• Important Reminder! Updating Personal Information in Wolverine Access

  • Employee health and well being are of critical importance to us at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. To provide the assistance that you may need during the pandemic or in the future, please ensure your phone number (current address voice, mobile or permanent) and current local address are correct in Wolverine Access. Click on "Employee Self-Service,” login with your uniqname and password, click on the "Campus Personal Information" icon, and you will be able to update your personal information. 

Remember: the answer to many of your questions can be found on the Go Safe Go Blue Go Dearborn website! 

Here we go!

Sue

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs