Message from the Interim Provost
Dear Colleagues,
As we approach Thanksgiving and the end of the fall semester, I want to say thank you for your efforts in supporting our students during another extraordinary semester. The end of the semester is in sight, but we recognize your work is not near over. Your efforts on behalf of our students this semester are yet another example of your dedication to our important work always, but especially during this pandemic.
I know this semester has not been easy, and I know this pandemic has affected us in many different ways. Rest assured, that the university remains committed to your safety and success, and that together, we will prevail and be a much stronger university because of our perseverance.
Wrapping Up the Fall Semester
Thanks to input from our Faculty Senate and Student Government Association, the Office of the University Registrar announced last week that the deadline for students to drop or withdraw from classes was extended to Thursday, Dec. 3rd. This date also serves as the last day for faculty to submit completed "Drop by Instructor" forms via registrar@utrgv.edu. The updated drop deadline is noted on a revised version of the academic calendar. You can access the current version of the "Drop by Instructor" form here.
Any dropped classes will result in DR or W grades reflected on students' official transcripts, but those will not be counted against undergraduate students' six-drop limits. Dropped classes at this time will not result in any refunded tuition and could impact students’ financial aid. Students are encouraged to contact U Central to understand the possible impacts to their financial aid. Students have also been reminded of the incomplete policy, given that some may be in a position to consider that.
Please also note that Zoom recordings from the fall will be removed on Feb. 1st so please work with our IT Support Center should you need to retain any of that information after that date.
Staying Safe and Healthy During the Holidays
As we approach the holiday season, please be mindful of the continuing risks related to COVID-19 and familiarize yourself with university safety protocols for Thanksgiving and beyond.
In addition, the end of the semester, the holiday season and the pandemic, all generate stress and anxiety for our students and also for all of us.
For our students, please connect them with support, whether it be academic or other, to resources we have available:
- The Learning Center (check out these FAQs to learn more about services available to students and how to access them)
- Writing Center
- Academic Advising Center (check out the new Express Advising service, as well, where students can get quick questions answered on the spot)
- Graduation Help Desk (for help with roadblocks to graduation which students have not been able to solve through traditional channels)
- Technology Support
- Remember that our parking lots are Wi-Fi accessible and that students also have the option to utilize on-campus computer labs (and virtual labs "VLabs" with available software). See Resources for Working Remotely for Students for computer lab hours.
- Students can use Zoom/Teams for study sessions. See the IT Resources for Students page for more information.
- Center for Diversity and Inclusion
- Counseling Center
- Military and Veteran Success Center
- Student Accessibility Services
- Student Food Pantry
For each of you, please avail yourself of the many resources available to support you during this stressful time. Some of those resources were shared in an email sent last week by the Office of Human Resources.
Looking Ahead to the Spring Semester
We have worked hard to keep our campus community safe this fall. We have created strict protocols, and our campus community is doing their best to follow them. Spring, at least in the beginning, will look much like fall.
Our spring modalities will look similar to fall but with some important differences. We will have nearly 3% more hybrid courses, 3% more online synchronous, and 13% more traditional courses. This means a reduction of almost 20% in online asynchronous courses. Thank you for structuring each of your courses in a modality that maximizes learning while ensuring safety.
When it comes to our hybrid modality, please remember - and please remind our students - that, in the context of this spring, some of you are using the hybrid designation to allow for maximum flexibility. For example, there may be hybrid courses that start online and stay there for most of the semester if things don't improve. On the contrary, hybrid courses that started online may opt to meet in person more often, if our public-health outlook improves during the spring.
Preparing the syllabus for each course early and sharing more about the selected modality will be so helpful to students as they plan for a safe and successful return to their studies this spring. The syllabus template and additional guidance are available on the Office of Faculty Success & Diversity website. Should you have any questions on content, please consult with your Chair/Director and/or Dean.
As you design your courses for next semester, please reflect on your teaching practices and students’ feedback to build engaging, inclusive, and compassionate teaching and learning spaces responsive to students’ needs and centered on their success and well-being. The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) offers resources and tutorials on best teaching practices via recorded videos by faculty members across academic disciplines. Teaching conversations and other resources will continue to be available next semester. The Center for Online Learning and Teaching Technology (COLTT) also offers resources for both faculty and students on navigating online teaching and learning. Please reach out to the CTE and COLTT with any questions.
In addition, our students are facing an unprecedented job market so we are continuing our support this spring with our Spring Relief Package. This is made possible from a combination of CARES and institutional funds. Plans for the summer are already being discussed.
Last week, Dr. Bailey released a video update to students. You can find that here.
Return to Campus
Our goal for spring is to once again keep our on-campus population to a minimum, so we will continue to handle your return to campus gradually and safely. Division leads and supervisors will work together to determine when and how you return. All employees will have access to their offices, but we ask that you closely follow safety protocols in accessing them.
We also understand that many of you may need to continue working from home this spring based on a variety of factors, including health conditions and child care. Department chairs and supervisors will continue to assist you with your situation. Please work directly with your chair or supervisor regarding your unique circumstance, and if additional information or assistance is needed, please contact the Office of Human Resources at hr@utrgv.edu.
As more information on the development of a COVID-19 vaccine continues to be released, rest assured that our Infectious Disease Outbreak Committee, comprised of health and safety experts at the local, state and UT System level, is closely monitoring the situation and will recommend adjustments based on the safety and health of our campus community.
Travel
We do not know exactly what spring or summer will hold, but we remain optimistic that some travel may be available by summer. Please know that this is entirely dependent on the pandemic and its impact locally and on the destination.
As of now, UTRGV continues to restrict business travel outside of Texas. Please find the latest travel protocols here.
Again, thank you for your hard work and dedication to our students. Please stay safe and healthy this holiday season.
Sincerely,
Janna Arney, Ph.D.
Deputy President and Interim Provost