Note: the following message was sent to faculty and staff from Provost David Silva on March 11, 2020. For the most up to date information, visit our coronavirus response page.
Dear Colleagues,
As communicated earlier today, Salem State is canceling classes for the week of March 23 - March 27, 2020. All scheduled classes, even those with 25 or more students, will continue to meet in person until spring break begins.
We have canceled classes the week of March 23 in order to give faculty time to reorganize or restructure their courses in the event that instruction needs to move to an online format for either part, or the remainder, of the semester. Please note that a decision has not yet been made regarding moving classes online. We do, however, need to prepare for this possibility so as to ensure the continuity of instruction for our students.
On Monday, March 23, and Tuesday, March 24, the Center for Teaching Innovation will be offering a series of workshops for faculty on how to move courses online. These workshop offerings will be added to the list of “Flu-Proof Course” Workshops that are currently scheduled as soon as details are finalized. Workshops will include information on how to make non-lecture courses available online. The remainder of the week – March 25, 26, and 27 – will allow faculty members time to make adjustments to their courses in preparation for classes to resume on Monday, March 30.
The “Flu-Proof Course” Workshop Schedule can be found here.
In addition, deans and departments are working on plans for practicums, clinicals, fieldwork, and other off-campus coursework. This information will be shared once available.
In recognition of the unique circumstances of COVID-19 and its impact on advising and fall registration, we encourage faculty advisors to be flexible in scheduling appointments and providing virtual options, such as phone, email, zoom or skype. We will also be giving approval for professional advisors to advise day students and remove faculty advising holds for the fall 2020 semester in the event that a student is unable to meet with their advisor. Finally, we are revising the fall registration period as follows: April 6 for seniors; April 7 for juniors; April 8 for sophomores; and April 9 for freshmen.
Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our students as we respond to this rapidly evolving situation.
Please contact me at provost@salemstate.edu with any questions.
Sincerely,
David J. Silva, Ph.D.
Provost and Academic Vice President