January 6, 2022 Volume 6 Issue 11

Today's Issue: Spring 2022 Remote Start

This special issue of the Faculty Focus includes a summary of essential information and resources for Emory College faculty and staff as we prepare for the remote start of the Spring 2022 semester next week. Please reach out to oue.facultysupport@emory.edu If you have specific questions that require immediate attention.

Key Points and Dates for Spring 2022

Please note the following key points, dates, and deadlines for the remote start of the Spring 2022 semester: 

  • All undergraduate courses will begin as scheduled and held online from Tuesday, January 11 until Wednesday, January 26. Your instructional time does not change.
  • No undergraduate classes will be held (in any format, no exceptions) on Thursday, January 27 and Friday, January 28 to facilitate students’ return to campus. Faculty are asked to avoid scheduling major tests or assignment due dates for January 31 and February 1.;
  • All faculty/instructors are expected to submit their revised syllabi for the Spring semester to the Course Atlas by 12 p.m. on Monday, January 10.
  • All faculty/Instructors are expected to have their Canvas course sites with relevant Zoom links published by 12 p.m., Monday, January 10. Faculty are encouraged to contact students via email and/or their class Canvas course no later than January 10. 
  • Graduate seminars offered by Emory College faculty will also be offered in a remote format during this period, unless there is a compelling research/clinical need to offer in-person instruction. 
  • Research activities will continue, and undergraduates may participate in research, including work related to honors theses.
  • The campus will remain open with some modifications in services. Residence Halls will open as scheduled on January 9.
  • Student- and faculty-facing offices, including academic departments, are expected to remain in operation during this time.
  • In-Person classes will resume on Monday, January 31 as conditions permit. 
  • Students, regardless of their vaccination status, will be required to take a COVID-19 test prior to returning to campus. 
  • For more information on Spring 2022 and an FAQ, please visit the Emory Forward website.

Add/Drop/Swap Modifications

Add/Drop/Swap (A/D/S) is now underway and will end at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, January 18. Please note that some students will need to make changes after Add/Drop/Swap formally ends due to challenges they may have with the remote start. College staff will work with them on late changes through January 24 to help ensure academic continuity. Any late changes will be subject to space availability.  

The following recommendations are strongly encouraged to assist students during A/D/S:

  • Record Class Sessions: Because of the remote start, all instructors are asked to record their synchronous class sessionsand to make these available to students upon their request as appropriate.  
  • Course Visits: For class visits during the remote period, instructors are welcome to invite students to attend class during live sessions and/or view class recordings. Students have been instructed to reach out directly to instructors for this access. Please be as responsive as possible to these requests given the challenges of assessing courses in a remote format and the short time frame for A/D/S.
  • Overload Requests: Instructors should carefully consider overload requests due to room capacity issues that might ensue when in-person instruction returns at the end of January.

University Libraries: Course Reserves and Other Services

Please see the  Remote Alternatives for Spring 2022 Course Support for a full list of all the services offered by the University Libraries. If you need assistance in any aspect of course support for spring semester, or your own research, please reach out to your subject librarian. You can also direct your students to Ask a Librarian or to your subject librarian for any questions on library services. 

Course reserves: You may place readings on course reserves, which are integrated into Canvas. If you have students who do not have their books the first week of class, you can upload in course reserves a scan of the readings for the first week. Also, the Libraries will manage and pay for any permissions required for readings placed in course reserves. The exception may be commercial textbooks, which publishers often restrict from use on course reserves. If you have any questions, email reserves@emory.edu or call 404-727-2230.

Ebooks: You may also check Library Search to see if the Libraries have your course texts as an ebook. If you don’t find your course text as an ebook, or have questions, reach out to your subject librarian and/or review the Libraries ebook guide.

Purchase requests: You can also place a request, whether for an ebook, book, DVD, etc. by completing a purchase request form. Please be aware that commercial textbook publishers will generally not sell electronic textbooks to libraries.

Canvas: If you have questions about your course in Canvas, the Teaching with Canvas page provides a lot of relevant information, including appointments, via Zoom, with the Canvas Instructional Technology and Design team.

Online Course Support Resources

As you prepare for the temporary transition to online instruction, support is available through Emory College Online, including:

Boosters and Attestation

All faculty, staff and students are required to receive a COVID-19 booster by Wednesday January 19. Instructions for students, faculty, and staff can be found on the Emory Forward vaccine page.

You will need to fill out the University’s attestation form that you have received the booster. Please note: If you have previously uploaded your updated vaccine card with your booster information to the Emory HOME portal, you will still need to fill out the attestation form. You will need your Emory ID and password to log in to fill out the form. You should then receive an email (check your spam folder) confirming your attestation from “Emory Covid Vaccine.”

COVID-19 Screening Tests Available

All faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to take regular advantage of the COVID-19 screening tests offered on campus. For more information and to schedule a test, please see the Emory Forward website.