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Teaching and Learning Continuity

Teaching and Learning Continuity

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From the Office of the Provost

Happy New Year! Many of us would not have guessed that Spring 2022 would open with COVID-19 still in the forefront of our thoughts and actions. While new strains continue to challenge us, we have enjoyed success in Fall 2021 with comparatively lower rates of infections across campus. Most of our students and employees are vaccinated, and many continue to get booster shots. Spring 2022, however, will continue to place demands upon us to apply COVID-19 protocols with utmost diligence.

I want to express strong gratitude to faculty and students who have maintained a collectively positive outlook, upheld a strong mission-oriented focus and demonstrated the persistence necessary to ensure success of the academic and research enterprise. As we move forward to complete this academic year, these same Aggie attributes will be needed and will work toward our advantage.

Let’s continue to keep our focus on excellence, innovation and agility. We’ve adapted well; we will continue to adapt our teaching and learning as we move into a new era of education, post-COVID.

The first day of classes is January 10, 2022. Information you will need is posted on the AggiesCare website, and on the Faculty and Learner Support Commons. Other information will be provided through University Communications and forums. We have asked deans and chairs to ensure information is reinforced and communicated to employees and students in their units. All colleges should be utilizing their own COVID committees to facilitate continuing operations and information sharing.

As an historically agile institution, we will continue to embrace this “new normal” while also achieving academic excellence. Your flexibility and commitment combined with a growth mindset continue to make the difference in our success. Every contribution to the mission matters, and we look forward to the many great contributions you will make to teaching and learning in Spring 2022. In parallel, it is very important that you take care of yourself and your families. Self-care is one of the best ways to ensure you continue to survive and thrive in these challenging times. Happy 2022 to all and let’s be mindful of the great things AggiesDO!

Tonya Smith-Jackson, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

1. RETURNING TO CAMPUS

Nine-month faculty return to campus on 1/5/22 and classes begin on 1/10/22. Be sure to follow the Spring 2022 Academic Calendar:

https://www.ncat.edu/registrar/academic-calendar-pdfs/spring-2022-academic-calendar.pdf

Recall the Provost’s memo released on 12/9/21, which provided information regarding the revised calendar for spring. Faculty were instructed to use three days between February 1, 2022, and April 18, 2022, at their discretion for wellness days. These days should be marked already on your course schedules to allow students time to plan. Also, the university has scheduled two additional days as wellness days – March 29th and April 18th. Events will be planned on campus in support of wellness and mental health. We will also have a regularly scheduled spring break and classes will end on May 5, 2022. Please note that the academic calendar is subject to change based on any significant events that preclude maintaining the current schedule. New faculty should contact their department chairperson if they have questions regarding the calendar or other matters.

Before the Spring 2022 semester begins, Facilities will clean and sanitize campus spaces, including dining areas. If necessary, signage and social distancing markers will be refreshed.

All employees are encouraged to stay healthy by getting the Covid-19 vaccine and booster shots (available at the on-campus Vaccine Clinic), flu shots (available at the Student Health Center now). Please update your vaccine information, including booster shots, here:

ncat.medicatconnect.com

Any employees experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should not return to work in person, but should notify their supervisor immediately and get tested. Information about testing on campus is located here: https://www.ncat.edu/coronavirus/aggies-care/testing.php

All students who reside in university housing (halls and suites) are required to test negative for COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status. In addition, one resident hall has been reserved for COVID positive students. A small number of isolation spaces will be made available as well.

More information about returning to campus in Spring 2022 can be found on the Aggies Care: Spring 2022 website located here: https://www.ncat.edu/coronavirus/aggies-care/index.php

Deans and department chairs are strongly encouraged to continue to dialogue with their faculty and staff regarding Spring 2022 operations. It is important to ensure information specific to unit operations and student success is conveyed directly and consistently.

Colleges/schools should communicate with their Building Representatives when issues arise regarding classroom cleaning or technology. Building Representatives should communicate with Facilities when assistance is needed. Colleges are also strongly encouraged to hold a minimum of two student forums/town halls to ensure students receive information in multiple ways. Students should be invited to provide input.

2. HOUSING & RESIDENCE LIFE

In Spring 2022, many students will reside in university residence halls, which will operate at 100% capacity. One residence hall have been designated as quarantine-only building. Some students may reside in Greensboro and the surrounding areas and will commute to campus.

The Student Center will operate with normal hours starting January 10, 2022, Monday-Friday 7 a.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. and Sunday, noon - 11 p.m. with face covering requirements. Call 336-334-7571 for information or email stu-center@ncat.edu.

The Campus Recreation Center will open starting on January 10, 2022, Monday-Thursday, 6 a.m. until midnight, Friday, 6 a.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. - 2 .p.m., and Sunday, 2 p.m. - 9 p.m., with required face covering, closing for deep cleaning during weekdays between 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., temperature checks and a COVID-19 questionnaire requirement. Capacity will be limited to 25 students per hour and 10 Faculty/Staff per hour and will be controlled through online SignUp Genius reservations. Call 336-285-4230 for information or email hmelks@ncat.edu.

Corbett Pool will reopen on February 1, 2022, Monday - Friday, noon - 8 p.m. for recreational swim with temperature checks and a COVID-19 questionnaire requirement. Dining services will follow the CDC and university guidelines and will offer boxed to-go services and autonomous delivery only. Call 336-285-3284 for information or email cdadams1@ncat.edu.

3. CONTROLLING COVID-19 THROUGH VACCINATION AND TESTING

The most important way to stop viral spreading with increasing cases and serious illnesses is is for everyone to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible. The Student Health Service will continue to offer vaccines throughout the academic year. Call 336-334-7880 for information on availability or email health@ncat.edu.

All students are expected to follow these protocols:

https://www.ncat.edu/coronavirus/aggies-care/protcols-for-students.php

The university has developed protocols for students and faculty who test positive for coronavirus, and for those who are discovered to be at risk of catching the virus due direct contact with a positive case. Full details for students and employees can be found at the following link:

https://www.ncat.edu/coronavirus/aggies-care/testing.php

Isolation and quarantine guidelines have also been developed:

https://www.ncat.edu/coronavirus/aggies-care/isolation-quarantine-guidelines.php.

On campus testing for faculty, staff and students is available at the Student Health Center from 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., M-F. Please call ahead for an appointment if you are having symptoms, 333-334-7880, or notify the staff at the front entrance.

The Dashboard (https://www.ncat.edu/coronavirus/confirmed-cases.php coronavirus/dashboard/index) will continue to be updated every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, to show the overall positivity rate, number of positives for employees and students, information about clusters and number of tests completed.

4. CLASSROOM HEALTH AND SAFETY

Classrooms will operate at 100% capacity, with no social distancing. Masking will be required in classrooms and on public transportation. Students and instructors who are not able to wear a mask, for whatever reason, are encouraged to teach or study in online courses

instead. Students who enter a class without a face mask and refuse to wear one should be reported immediately to the Dean of Students, Mr. Marc Williams, at 336-334-7791 (after 5 p.m., 202-270-3095). The Office of Accessibility Resources (OARs) should be contacted for any questions and arrangements to meet accommodations for students with disabilities who have registered with this office.

Housekeeping teams will clean lobby areas, and heavy traffic areas, based on CDC guidelines for disinfection and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) protocols. Facilities will maintain hand-sanitizer stations at major building entrances, elevator stops, auditoriums, classrooms, computer rooms and high-traffic areas. A quality control system will be in place to allow students, faculty and staff to be updated on the periodic cleaning of each classroom. Cleaning and sanitation stations will be staged in each classroom. Faculty members will be encouraged to clean and sanitize their learning spaces, with daily cleaning by Facilities. Deans and Building Representatives share responsibility for verifying and/or reporting that classrooms are cleaned, stocked with sanitation supplies and equipped with the appropriate technology.

Building representatives are the primary persons to interface with Facilities.

Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and monitoring systems will be assessed and readied prior to reopening of buildings. Building occupants should also wipe down commonly used surfaces before and after use with products that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against COVID-19 and are appropriate for the surface. This includes any shared-space location or equipment (e.g., copiers, printers, computers, A/V and other electrical equipment, coffee makers, desks and tables, light switches, doorknobs, etc.).

Every member of our North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University community lives by the core values of responsibility, excellence, integrity, inclusiveness and learning. Responsibility requires all of us to align our behavior with the best available science and current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Members of the Aggie family are expected to act responsibly by wearing a face covering, covering mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, washing hands well and often, and adhering to assembly rules, hygiene actions and signage for prevention and control. Students who do not have a face mask or other infection control materials may get assistance by contacting their department chair, who will be working with Building Representatives in each college. For more information, visit the Aggies Care website.

5. COURSE DELIVERY

Course delivery will be the same as Fall 2021. There are two modes of course delivery.

On Campus (code M), with a meeting pattern (days/times)
Distance Learning (code DL), with no meeting pattern

Detailed information about tuition rates for 2021-2022 may be found at the following link, which includes a cost estimator to assist with planning: https://hub.ncat.edu/administration/business- and-finance/comptroller/treasurers-office/tuition-and-fees.php

Please note: Some or all instructional formats for all or part of the 2021-2022 academic year may change due to the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As has always been the case, tuition and fees are charged at the beginning of the semester and will remain in place regardless of any changes in instructional format. Tuition and fees will not be refunded in the event that instructional format changes for any part of the 2021-2022 academic year.

Class scheduling will be similar to pre-pandemic patterns (i.e. Monday/Wednesday/Friday 50 minute classes; Tuesday/Thursday 75 minute classes; evening classes). Face-to-face classes must be taught in the assigned classrooms. Students enrolled in face-to-face classes are expected to attend classes face-to-face; students who are interested in 100% distance learning should ensure that they are registered for DL course sections as part of an online degree program or certificate. Due to extenuating circumstances and with proper documentation, some students will be allowed to attend an on-campus course remotely, with approval of the instructor and department chair.

Each academic unit must have a plan to be accessible during registration and advising. This information must be made available to students via email, Zoom or phone. Please share your plan with the respective dean, who will then file the plan with the Office of the Provost.

Faculty should focus on providing very clear syllabi, especially the attendance and participation policies. The Center for Academic Excellence provides a template along with several other resources. Please see this link: https://www.ncat.edu/provost/faculty- resources/index.php . This template contains information regarding absence policies and student responsibility if they test positive for COVID-19. Students are reminded that there will be no COVID-driven pass/fail alternate grading allowance in Spring 2022.

Faculty and staff supporting teaching and learning should continue to use creative solutions to maintain excellence through high- quality teaching and learning to help students be successful. Many training sessions have been conducted by the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), Information Technology Training and Development (ITTD) and Distance Education and Extended Learning. Several of these sessions have been recorded for on- demand professional development. In addition, all faculty teaching in Spring 2022 will be enrolled automatically in the Faculty Commons, which is accessible via Blackboard.

It is important to use Blackboard as an active tool to support learning management. Deans and chairs will monitor and verify the consistent use of Blackboard by all faculty. Some best practices include:

Uploading your Spring 2022 syllabus a week before classes begin and including a welcome message to students. Consult your department for the information that should be included on your syllabus or see the link to the syllabus template on the Faculty Resources page.
Uploading assignments and other information in a timely manner. Highlight pertinent deadlines on the calendar.
Entering grades frequently and providing other types of feedback to students. Students succeed when they receive feedback in a timely manner.
For DL courses, schedule at least one hour each week for synchronous engagement with students, although attendance should not be required.
Hold regular virtual office hours.
Post midterm grades no later than March 16, 2022, 11:59 p.m. and final grades no later than May 16, 2022, 11:59 p.m. EST).
Honor all dates in the academic calendar, including the final examination period and follow the final examination schedule.

To promote student success, all students will be enrolled in the Online Learner Support Commons, which will provide strategies for learner success and guidance on the technical aspects of learning online.

Students taking online courses or who have to attend classes remotely (with permission of the department chair and dean) are encouraged to use the Virtual Desktop Environment. ITTD will provide training for faculty and students as needed. Tutoring, recitations and office hours will be held primarily virtually.

Please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources (OARS) for information regarding accommodations for students at accessibilityresources@ncat.edu.

6. GUIDELINES FOR OFF-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

According to the Considerations for Institutions of Higher Education webpage (updated on April 27, 2021), “personal prevention practices (such as handwashing, staying home when sick) and environmental prevention practices (such as cleaning and disinfection) are important” to help lower the risk of exposure to and spreading COVID-19. Examples of behavioral precautions to lower risk include:

Limiting use of public buses, campus buses/shuttles or other high occupancy enclosed vehicles with limited ventilation and/or that require students, faculty, or staff to have sustained close contact with others. CDC’s Protect Yourself When Using Transportation provides tips for minimizing your risk when using public transportation.
Following steps such as proper use of face masks and hand-washing hygiene to protect themselves and others.
Limiting attendance at large out-of-class social gatherings and events.
Refraining from sharing objects such as pens and pencils.
Avoiding indoor dining rooms without social distancing.
Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched areas.
As stated on the Spring 2022: Aggies Care page, in addition to vaccination, responsible behavior includes consistently engaging in daily actions that have been proven to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Aggies involved in community engagement activities that occur off-campus should see themselves as an extension of the campus, and therefore should follow the COVID-19 protocols of theuniversity during these activities.
When possible, community volunteering, camps, and other engagement activities that can be conducted virtually should be conducted virtually.
In-person activities will require individuals to follow guidelines as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the NC A&T Health Center that have been proven to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Protective measures when involved in off-campus activities include continued mask wearing when indoors, social distancing, and following stringent sanitation protocols and practices.
Upon return to campus from an off-campus activity, students, faculty, and staff who have COVID-19 symptoms, tested positive for COVID-19, or have been potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19 (either through community-related exposure or international travel) are encouraged to follow CDC guidance to self-isolate or stay home.

7. FACULTY AND STUDENT TRAVEL PROCEDURES

International travel is subject to approval by the Ch cellor, Provost, or Chancellor Designee upon determination that the travel is essential for academic research or university business. In the very limited instances where international travel is approved, university personnel should follow the latest CDC guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international- travel-during-covid19.html. In addition, the institution will continue to monitor and follow U.S. Department of State restrictions on international travel: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/COVID-19-Country-Specific-Information.html

Fully vaccinated students and employees are allowed to travel domestically for approved university business. Students and employees who are not vaccinated are encouraged to delay travel until fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated who travel domestically must be tested for COVID- 19 before traveling and again 3-5 days after they return. If positive, they must isolate for 5 days. Refer to CDC guidelines about domestic travel: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html