Faculty Expectations

Overall Principles

  • Continue to provide a quality liberal arts education regardless of the mode of delivery.
  • Prioritize face-to-face time for those learning experiences that are unique to the liberal arts environment.
  • Prioritize face-to-face time for forms of teaching (e.g. experiential learning) that are significantly diminished in an online environment. Other modes of delivery may be adopted when they provide a more effective way of conveying material and/or will not interfere with the student experience.
  • Minimize risk by using virtual modes of interaction for office hours and other meetings.

Remote Learning Plans

Prior to the fall semester, faculty were asked to prepare remote learning plans that addressed a number of issues unique to remote instruction. Faculty will not be required to submit remote learning plans prior to the spring semester, but all instructors are encouraged to prepare a remote learning plan by thinking through the following items.

  • How will your courses accommodate students unable to attend class?
  • How will you deliver instruction in the first two weeks of the semester, which will be entirely remote? All classes are expected to meet for the full duration of this time period.
  • How will you ensure that students are engaged with a new course when it begins with remote instruction?

Prior to the start of classes on February 3, all faculty will need to:

  • Populate your automatically-generated Blackboard course with a syllabus and any other essential course materials. Note: there is significant evidence that students benefit from a common platform. If you need assistance using Blackboard, please contact David Soliday. If you choose to use a different Learning Management System (LMS) to house your course, you will not have IS support services. Course rosters will not be populated, students will not be able to use OWU username and passwords, and data will not be backed up. You will be responsible for any training needs your students may have.
  • Upload a syllabus that addresses the concerns of remote instruction. Please use the Syllabus Checklist from the Fall semester and the Sample Syllabus Language, which includes information on accessibility of materials, academic accommodation, academic integrity, virtual office hours, etc.

Modes of Teaching

There are multiple ways in which instruction can be provided, depending on the needs of instructors and students. However, all courses are expected to include the following elements:

  • Regular synchronous engagement with a faculty member, whether on- or offline.
  • Regular student-student interaction.
  • Regular feedback on student work and progress.
  • Flexibility for students and faculty to move in and out of the classroom.

Face-to-Face Classes

The expectation is that faculty will be teaching face to face. However, you need to be prepared to ensure instructional continuity in the case that one or more students cannot attend class. You must also be prepared to work with any students who are learning removely, including international students unable to return to campus.

Expectations
  • Alternative content/assignments/modes of engagement for students who cannot be in class. We cannot treat these students as independent studies.
  • Regular interaction with Remote Learners.
  • Opportunities for Remote Learners to engage with their peers.

Remote Classes

Expectations
  • A high-quality remote course that ensures student engagement with instructors and with peers.
  • In keeping with OWU's identity as a residential liberal-arts college, it is crucial that there are at least some synchronous sessions.
  • For student success and coordination across campus, we need to use scheduled time slots for synchronous engagement.
  • Course meets online teaching standards as set by APC.