[Plsfaculty] Hypothetical question

Wed Jan 5 10:38:38 MST 2022

Since no one in this institution seems to be moving forward https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vaBgtRqnwjCzrjAvu5yeeKfn1uSoYIuvuifa90iOmO4/edit

Ramin

From: Galbraith, David W - (galbrait) <galbrait at arizona.edu>
Sent: Monday, January 3, 2022 22:31
To: Palanivelu, Ravishankar - (rpalaniv) <rpalaniv at arizona.edu>; Yadegari, Ramin - (yadegari) <yadegari at arizona.edu>; Jenks, Matthew - (jenksm) <jenksm at arizona.edu>; Baltrus, David A - (baltrus) <baltrus at arizona.edu>; Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu
Cc: Stevens, Amanda M - (amanda84) <amanda84 at arizona.edu>
Subject: RE: [Plsfaculty] Hypothetical question

Ravi:

Thanks - your information and suggestions are thoughtful and very useful!

I agree with everything discussed so far.  Based on my monitoring of the spread of the pandemic (if anyone wants some background, I have an Excel spreadsheet of US COVID incidence tracked daily since 3/8/2020 (5:13:15 PM) when there were 541 confirmed cases!), I assume omicron will dominate here rapidly when the undergraduate students return - we already see disturbing changes in incidence on the UA dashboard (50% positive, anyone?). All indications suggest omicron is much more infectious but less severe than delta. But this will place our administration in a quandary: if many (most?) students come down in the next few weeks with detectable omicron, what do they do, and, more importantly, what do we do?

I suggest we all have back-up plans to anticipate converting to on-line only (sorry, if this sounds obvous). Since we have all taught one cycle on-line this should not be difficult to set up.  On a more positive/creative note, since we have all of this on-line material (including zoom recordings via D2L), there should be some way to process this information into pedagogical resources leading a "new-normal" (apologies for using that phrase!) of teaching under conditions where close physical contacts cannot (or should not) be maintained.  This could be a leadership/growth opportunity.

David

From: Plsfaculty <plsfaculty-bounces at list.cals.arizona.edu<mailto:plsfaculty-bounces at list.cals.arizona.edu>> On Behalf Of Palanivelu, Ravishankar - (rpalaniv)
Sent: Monday, January 3, 2022 3:37 PM
To: Yadegari, Ramin - (yadegari) <yadegari at arizona.edu<mailto:yadegari at arizona.edu>>; Jenks, Matthew - (jenksm) <jenksm at arizona.edu<mailto:jenksm at arizona.edu>>; Baltrus, David A - (baltrus) <baltrus at arizona.edu<mailto:baltrus at arizona.edu>>; Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu<mailto:Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu>
Cc: Stevens, Amanda M - (amanda84) <amanda84 at arizona.edu<mailto:amanda84 at arizona.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Plsfaculty] Hypothetical question

Thanks, Dave, for asking this important question that is in the minds of everyone. I agree with Ramin's suggestions. I would like to add that CALS Faculty Council could request a response from CALS about this issue. This way requests can reach them from multiple fronts.

It is almost a crime that we have received no guidance or pointers from the UA administration (as of today). The way UC system decisively moved only makes me crave for such leadership with clarity.

I am also surprised that there are no workshops or meetings to help prepare Faculty for in-person classes, compared to what were offered before the start of the Fall semester. Perhaps I am wrong about this. However, If you did not teach last fall and you come across them, please attend, as it helped answer many questions for me and gain access to many resources.

Some pointers and comments from my experience last Fall, may be of some use to those teaching this semester (I am sure others who taught have some more ideas and tactics they adopted):

  1.  Testing regularly helped keep my anxiety levels low, prevented from making assumptions, and gave me the confidence to go about my job. I tested every Monday and Thursday (PCR test) in the Student Union and got the results the following day. Testing is something UA did well (and it is free and no limits), and the whole experience was a snap. https://covid19.arizona.edu/covid19-testing is the site where you register and signup for appointments. They even now have Take Away Test kit system (attached photo from yesterday) and Forbes lobby is one of the few pick up and drop off stations at UA.
  2.  I found masks such as K-95 type, which project away from your mouth, helps students hear you well and your voice is not muddled if you are recording your lectures.
  3.  Throughout the semester the mask mandate was in effect and all students cooperated very well. I did not have a single confrontation or untoward incident. Classrooms were supplied with masks. Two times a student would have forgotten their masks and when pointed out they used masks supplied in the classroom.
  4.  I held all office hours (myself and TA) via zoom to help minimize exposure. And it worked out great.
  5.  I encouraged students to stay away from class if they are not feeling well and pointed them to my recorded lectures to make up lost time.
Ravi
--
Ravishankar Palanivelu, Ph. D.
Associate Professor
School of Plant Sciences
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona, 85721
Phone: 520-626-2229
Fax: 520-621-7186
Web: http://ag.arizona.edu/research/ravilab

________________________________
From: Plsfaculty <plsfaculty-bounces at list.cals.arizona.edu<mailto:plsfaculty-bounces at list.cals.arizona.edu>> on behalf of Yadegari, Ramin - (yadegari) <yadegari at arizona.edu<mailto:yadegari at arizona.edu>>
Sent: Monday, January 3, 2022 12:24 PM
To: Jenks, Matthew - (jenksm) <jenksm at arizona.edu<mailto:jenksm at arizona.edu>>; Baltrus, David A - (baltrus) <baltrus at arizona.edu<mailto:baltrus at arizona.edu>>; Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu<mailto:Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu> <Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu<mailto:Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu>>
Cc: Stevens, Amanda M - (amanda84) <amanda84 at arizona.edu<mailto:amanda84 at arizona.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Plsfaculty] Hypothetical question

I think the information should move in both directions. Minimally, CALS leadership should be made aware of the concerns of our faculty. We could also offer suggestions that may not be so original in the context of other university's responses (example<https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/01/03/colleges-face-question-starting-semester-amid-covid-19?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8a6fc7a716-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8a6fc7a716-198520837&mc_cid=8a6fc7a716&mc_eid=f831ad2f13>). What is remarkable is the deafening silence of our central admin on what the university's response will be at this time.

Ramin

From: Plsfaculty <plsfaculty-bounces at list.cals.arizona.edu<mailto:plsfaculty-bounces at list.cals.arizona.edu>> On Behalf Of Jenks, Matthew - (jenksm)
Sent: Sunday, January 2, 2022 16:56
To: Baltrus, David A - (baltrus) <baltrus at arizona.edu<mailto:baltrus at arizona.edu>>; Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu<mailto:Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu>
Cc: Stevens, Amanda M - (amanda84) <amanda84 at arizona.edu<mailto:amanda84 at arizona.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Plsfaculty] Hypothetical question

Hi Dave,

Until now, the Provost has to approve any switch from in-person to online teaching.  We've tried a few times already, and until now, the Provost office is not supportive of making this switch (except in very rare cases).  Like you, I've seen what's happening elsewhere.  I'm expecting some kind of comment/guidance out of the President/Provost office soon.

Matt

From: Plsfaculty <plsfaculty-bounces at list.cals.arizona.edu<mailto:plsfaculty-bounces at list.cals.arizona.edu>> on behalf of "Baltrus, David A - (baltrus)" <baltrus at arizona.edu<mailto:baltrus at arizona.edu>>
Date: Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 3:01 PM
To: "Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu<mailto:Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu>" <Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu<mailto:Plsfaculty at list.cals.arizona.edu>>
Subject: [Plsfaculty] Hypothetical question

Hi all,

In the absence of University wide messages about modes of teaching for Spring, and since many of our peer institutions are started Spring semester online already, what would happen if we as instructors decided to start our own in person classes online next semester? Would there be penalties levied by PLS or CALS or the university?

Just curious:)

Dave
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