Message to Faculty from Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Joseph P. Scartelli, Ph.D.

Dear Faculty:

As a follow-up to the message distributed by President Hemphill earlier today, I am reaching out to provide information regarding on-going planning efforts and class attendance policies.  Upon returning from Spring Break, you are asked to consider adjustments to class attendance policies, where they exist, in order to accommodate those impacted by COVID-19, while also helping to diminish the spread of illness through person-to-person contact.  Of course, such decisions remain the right of each faculty member under academic freedom policies.

The Virginia Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that "people are not punished academically or career-wise; a doctor's note should not be necessary."  The CDC has created customized websites with preparation recommendations for various industries.  View the CDC website for higher education.

Please be advised that current concerns over the potential effects of the continued spread of COVID-19 are requiring immediate planning for alternatives to existing instructional delivery methods.  With regard to executing our academic mission, we will be considering all options available in order to ensure minimal disruption to academic engagement and continued progress for students.  As such, the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning will be providing increased assistance and individual outreach to transition in-class course content to a digital platform for online delivery in the event of disruption to campus operations due to COVID-19.  At the same time, the Division of Information Technology is collecting information on the tools available to assist with remote instruction, including Zoom conferencing for live meetings.  These services are being offered as faculty may be required to engage in alternate delivery of courses in order to finish the semester in the event of a campus closure.

Additionally, all faculty should review domestic and international travel plans for the remainder of the spring semester with academic leadership in their respective college. Please be advised that we will share additional information as it becomes available.  At this point, I want to thank you for your consideration and flexibility.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Joseph P. Scartelli, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs