July 24 faculty/staff update from the Ready & Resilient Committee

Colleagues,

This week’s Ready & Resilient (R&R) update includes specific details about a number of processes and topics:

• R&R Page for Testing, Training, Health Screening, & Check-In
• How to Administer the COVID-19 test
• UPDATE to Student Remote Only Accommodations
• Childcare and Local Schools
• Faculty Handbook Proviso on Class Absences During COVID-19
• Employee FAQs
• Technology Update
• UPDATE: Cultural Programs This Fall
• Updated Posters & Signage
• Ongoing R&R Work and Future Updates

R&R Page for Testing, Training, Health Screening

Click here to see the R&R page with links to all required trainings and testing details, as well as links to the healthy screening app, and more.

Yesterday’s R&R update included:

• Link to the LabCorp testing portal (and instructions) on the R&R testing page
• Link to the live training modules (less than 30 minutes)
  • Read the Healthy Elon Commitment here before starting the training
• Link to the Healthy Screening App

How to Administer Your COVID-19 Test

Your test kit will come with clear instructions on how to properly self-collect a nasal swab. You will be instructed to take the provided cotton swab out of the package, taking care to not touch the cotton tip. You will then need to rotate the swab and insert less than one inch into each nostril, rotating at least three times per nostril. Watch this short video demonstration of an actual test collection.

UPDATE to Student Remote Only Accommodations

Yesterday’s email about the new Modification Review Committee (MRC) and COVID-19 related student accommodations drew some questions. The process was designed in response to students and families articulating concerns about coming to campus during the COVID-19 pandemic. The MRC will review each request on a case-by-case basis to support the unique situation of each student who has health and safety concerns and to design learning and housing plans. The MRC will be discussing these topics at their committee meetings. Director of Student Care and Outreach (SCO), Paul Tongsri has shared that faculty and staff should feel free to reach out to Student Care and Outreach or create an online Student Care Referral to support students.

Childcare and Local Schools

Look for updates today and next Wednesday from Associate Vice President for Human Resources Kelli Shuman regarding options of learning support for school-aged children this fall for faculty and staff.

Faculty Handbook Proviso on Class Absences During COVID-19

Academic Council has approved a proviso to Elon’s Faculty Handbook policy on class absences (X34H) and recommends that these guidelines and information be used as departmental policies and faculty syllabi are updated. Questions about the guidelines should be directed to Academic Council. Click here to read the proviso to Elon’s Faculty Handbook policy on class absences.

Employee FAQs

The first set of employee FAQs will be posted to the R&R site Monday. Many of the questions relate to classroom issues, but a wide range of issues is included. Click here to read the FAQs starting Monday, July 23, 2020.

Faculty-Staff Visit Days

We are exploring the possibility of providing a day when staff or faculty, who have been away from campus, can visit offices and classrooms and ask staff members questions (physically distanced) about setups, technology, etc. We will let you know any updates.

Technology Update

• Moodle: The Moodle theme will be updated on July 29, but there will be no downtime associated with this update. Users will notice a few new features, including improved course legibility and customization, a one click button to toggle editing on and off, a course management panel that consolidates all course settings onto one page, and an optional table of contents menu for navigating course topics. A full list of improvements and features will be provided next week.
• Classroom technology: Technology is actively being installed in classrooms across campus. If you come to campus to explore your classroom, please note that the room may not have been updated yet. More information is coming soon on faculty development opportunities related to classroom technology.
• Please do not spray technology equipment. Currently, multiple copiers are no longer working due to being sprayed and cannot be repaired immediately. Wash or sanitize hands after use. Use a sanitizing wipe, if you feel the need to clean a device.

UPDATE: Cultural & Special Programs This Fall

This week, Cultural & Special Programs confirmed an additional speaker for this fall:

• Q&A with scholar and How to Be and Anti-Racist author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
  Monday, Sept. 21 (virtually)

See the previous announcement in the July 17, 2020 R&R update.

Updated Posters & Signage

Updated R&R and COVID-19 posters and signage are available from Print Services. Use this link to see available signs and find instructions for ordering from Print Services.

Ongoing R&R Work and Future Updates

We expect to release final details on a number of processes July 17-24, including:

• Planning Week schedules
• Benchmarking and alert levels being developed by the Infectious Disease
• Committee
• Fall events on campus
• Plans for international students
• Student ambassadors
• More on Move-In and Orientation

Our Requests of You

• Thank you for your good questions. We need your ideas. Keep reaching out to us individually and through ready2020@elon.edu. We ask that you give us a bit of grace and patience as we work through the many recommendations and help prepare for this fall.
• As your programs and departments are developing processes and making plans for fall, please share those plans through deans and vice presidents, as well as through Jeff Stein at jstein@elon.edu or through ready2020@elon.edu so we can ensure alignment across campus in this rapidly changing environment.

We know you need information about fall semester and will continue to provide updates throughout the summer via emails and the Ready & Resilient website.

Sincerely,

The Ready & Resilient Committee

• Jeff Stein, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Assistant Professor of English (Chair)
• Dan Anderson, Vice President of University Communications
• Ginette Archinal, Medical Director of Student Health and University Physician
• MarQuita Barker, Director of Residence Life
• John Barnhill, Associate Vice President for University Advancement
• Tom Flood, Assistant Vice President of Physical Plant
• Jason Husser, Associate Professor of Political Science and Policy Studies, and Director of the Elon Poll (Academic Council Representative)
• Deandra Little, Assistant Provost, Director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and Professor of English
• Paul Miller, Assistant Provost for Academic Operations and Communications and Professor of Exercise Science
• Kelly Reimer, Director of Teaching and Learning Technologies (Staff Council Representative)
• Carrie Ryan, Director of Auxiliary Services
• Kelli Shuman, Associate Vice President for Human Resources & Chief Human Resources Officer
• Gabie Smith, Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Psychology
• Mary Southern, Project Manager for Provost and Academic Affairs Operations (Project Manager)
• Mike Ward, Deputy Director of Athletics
• Randy Williams, Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Assistant Professor of Education