For Faculty

Our Academic Continuity Support team has created a web site dedicated to providing information about how to use the various learning technologies available to you during this disruption:

www.ottawa.edu/keepteaching

(login required)

Additionally, all faculty affected by the disruption can bypass our traditional OUHelp technical support and access a dedicated hotline and email address as shown on the web site above.

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Provost’s Instructional Directive: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

Direction on Emergency Instruction Intervention:

As a result of the concerns related to COVID-19, Ottawa University has determined that ALL COURSES CURRENTLY PROVIDED ON THE ALL CAMPUSES will take place through distance-learning modalities (online courses and the use of telephone conference calls). Although many students will continue to reside on the Ottawa residential campus, face-to-face courses will not be offered, and all classes and faculty instructional activities will be provided in the following manner:

1. ONLINE COURSES:  Continue as scheduled
2. RESIDENTIAL (OTTAWA, KS & SURPRISE, AZ CAMPUS):  Effective March 23, 2020
   1. All courses will meet at their regularly scheduled times, but students will only need to call into the course through an assigned telephone number.
   2. Assigned telephone numbers will be distributed to faculty and students near the beginning of the week of March 16^th.
   3. Current ground courses will transition: All residential courses that are not already online will meet in “Telephone Conference” format with related course materials and assignments exchanged between faculty and students via “Ottawa.edu” email addresses. 
   4. Transition to Online and/or Zoom:  Some faculty may desire an expeditious transition to online, zoom, or other more sophisticated and effective distance learning modality during the remaining weeks of the semester.  HOWEVER, PRIOR APPROVAL TO MOVE AWAY FROM AUDIO-CONFERENCING must be given the faculty member directly from the OUMW Academic Dean, IN ADVANCE OF ANY TRANSITION.  Approvals are necessary to ensure the readiness of both students and faculty, as well as effective construction, documentation, and technology support for newly developed online or Zoom courses. 
   5. Training: Please be aware that Dr. Carine Ullom, Associate Dean for Instructional Innovation (carine.ullom@ottawa.edu), is currently scheduling group and individual training concerning online course development and instruction. Please see attached letter below from Dr. Ullom. 
   6. Faculty Mentors:  Faculty who are willing to serve as mentors or advisors to other faculty concerning online course teaching strategies and/or course development are encouraged to register with Dr. Ullom as soon as possible.
   7. Lectures: Although lectures can be recorded on smart phones and through computer cameras, each campus will endeavor to  prepare “Lecture Recording Rooms” designed specifically to record faculty lectures for distribution and archive.  If a faculty member is interested in utilizing such resources, please contact your Academic Dean as soon as possible. 
   8. Modify Lesson Plans: Faculty are advised to IMMEDIATELY modify current lesson plans and transition them to audio instructional strategies or Blackboard solutions. 
   9. Laboratory courses:  Fine Arts and Science faculty must explore and plan for alternative strategies for LAB, LESSON, and GROUP instruction. Please work with your Academic Dean and Division Head to explore solutions.
   10. Student Internships and Practicums: Related faculty must make immediate arrangements and provide communications for any students participating in internships or practicums.
   11. Attendance:  Attendance can be effectively managed through Blackboard for online courses, but for audio, zoom, and correspondence courses, the instruction will require attendance be determined through monitoring electronic transactions.
   12. Working from Home: If necessary, arrangements can be made for faculty to work from home.
   13. Distance learning student/faculty decorum: If not already in syllabi, students should be provided appropriate contact information for peers in the classroom and faculty.  Ground rules and minimum expectations must be communicated to all members of each course. Privacy and respect are critical guiding principles for all courses.  All students will be provided resource materials, training, and guidance through the local Academic Dean, Associate Dean for Instructional Innovation, and the University Provost as needed.  Faculty must provide and share critical contact information, including faculty office hours and appropriate communication information. 
   14. Advising: All advising can be accomplished through the telephone and email.
   15. Registration and Registrar: Course registration can be handled through the Internet and telephone.
   16. Library: Library access and resources can be handled through the University’s portal. 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY

Dr. Carine Ullom, Associate Dean for Instructional Innovation, has provided guidance to all faculty and adjuncts teaching classroom-based courses in SP2/SPF 2020 to ensure academic continuity, tools and support for teaching at a distance.

The Instructional Design and Academic Technology team – those responsible for all facets of Ottawa University’s e-learning infrastructure – has been hard at work preparing for the possibility of a disruption in classroom-based teaching.  We recognize that suddenly needing to change the way that you teach can be quite unsettling.  We are here for you!   

The following supports are, or soon will be, ready for you: 

1. Training (in person and via video conference) on the following topics:* 

• Blackboard (Beginner and Advanced) 
• Collaborate (video meeting software built into your course space Blackboard) 
• Pronto (messaging app built into your course space in Blackboard) 
• How to teach effectively at a distance 

2. Practice spaces and accounts:  Each of you will have: 

• a personal Blackboard “Sandbox” in which you can: 
  •  practice the features of Blackboard without risk of doing damage to your live/active Blackboard SP2/SPF course space.   
  • practice with Collaborate 
• a “sample student” account with which to log in to your Sandbox course and view things the way a student would see them. 
• a conference call number to use for teaching and office hours. 

3. Dedicated Support (separate from OU Help and only for those affected by disruption) 

• Phone line direct to this team, staffed from 8 AM to 10 PM Central Time M-F (possibly limited hours on weekends as well) 
• Email (ouacademictech@ottawa.edu) 
• Individual consultations by appointment (online booking coming soon) 
• Website with information and resources about all of the items in this memo and more 
• Assistance with creating and adding elements to your Blackboard space 

During the forums that Dr. Haines held with the OUAZ and OUMW faculty earlier this week, some of you voiced concern over the loss of informal collegial interaction and support that will be our reality when we are working in disparate locations.  I am in communication with my colleagues in IT about this and we believe we have a viable and user-friendly option.  

NOTE:  University faculty with underlying health conditions may petition for special accommodations in the event they have a concern about their personal health being compromised. Such petitions should be made to their direct supervisor and to Human Resources and every effort will be made to accommodate such requests.