Informed Employees

The Department of Physical Plant’s facility services team adopted a “Green Cleaning Process” of campus years ago in response to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification process and to disinfect and clean the campus in a healthy and sustainable process. Recently, facility services increased the frequency of disinfecting to daily of all frequently touched and hard surfaces that may come in contact with our hands to reduce germs and the spread of COVID-19 virus. These surfaces include handrails, door knobs, elevator controls, switches, classroom desk tops and similar items. Custodial services reviewed cleaning and disinfectant chemicals with BISM, Acme, and Daycon (outside contract suppliers) to confirm the disinfectant kills the COVID-19 virus. We have worked with our custodial chemical suppliers to make sure we are using the proper chemicals to achieve these goals.

In addition, our floor maintenance program not only cleans and puts a shine on the floors but all common areas are cleaned daily to reduce germs from getting tracked throughout buildings. We use entry walk off systems within all buildings to reduce dirt from getting tracked into the buildings and also vacuum carpeted floors on a routine basis and use a HEPA grade filters within the vacuums to minimize dust particles by 95 percent.

Cleaning Frequency Guide

The mission of facility services is to provide a safe and clean environment in support of the University’s goal to provide a quality education. The following cleaning standards have been implemented during the COVID-19 virus for the campus.

 

Equipment/chemicals utilized

Facility services uses chemicals that have been approved by BISM, Daycon, and Acme for disinfecting of facilities. Facility services also utilizes the EvaClean PX200ES hand held electrostatic sprayer and Purtab mixture in spray bottles for a one-minute kill claim for the COVID-19 virus and also has a 14-hour protection window. Areas that are being treated daily:

The wax that is utilized on floor tile surfaces has an antimicrobial infused into the wax, causing bacteria to be unable to grow and reproduce.

Hand Sanitizer

The University community is encouraged to utilize bathrooms for the purpose of washing hands, which is stocked by facility services. Facility services does provide and maintain certain hand sanitizer stations located in most buildings on campus. Facility services does not provide individual or jug size hand sanitizers for use, this would be a departmental expense and process. Individual departments would be responsible to fund and refill hand sanitizer stations that are in addition to the locations below. Hand sanitizer locations on campus:

 

Supplies responsibility

Facility services is budgeted for and provides hand soap, paper products, hand driers, and other supplies necessary in bathrooms and areas responsible for cleaning.

Department supplied

Departments may elect to provide hand sanitizer or other disinfectants within their department, offices or classrooms.

COVID-19 Additional Notes

• Facility services will be available to address any urgent disinfectant needs that are determined to be necessary.
• Frequency will change based on occupancy of space, campus closure or special circumstances.
• Routine scheduled cleaning, during non COVID-19 conditions, will be adjusted in order to complete tasks under this procedure.
• Facility services will also modify this procedure based on need or as directed by director of physical plant and/or assistant director of physical plant – facilities services.
• Procedure will also be modified as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or other credible sources provides guidelines and recommendations.

Preparing for Fall

Q: Where can faculty go to find the most up-to-date information on SU’s COVID-19 efforts?

A: Updated information is maintained on the SU COVID-19 webpages, including Informed Faculty, Informed Staff and Informed Students. All full-time faculty, adjunct faculty and academic staff also should have access to the Faculty Senate COVID-19 Instruction and Town Hall Canvas site. Please see the Communication Flow statement and other important documents there.

All COVID-19 Task Force teams are sharing documents in One Drive and uploading completed documents to the COVID-19 Canvas site.

Q: Is there a Faculty Readiness Checklist that academic areas can use to gauge readiness for Level 2?

A: There are several readiness resources. The SU Technology Support Center Knowledgebase has useful information to search by keywords. On the Faculty Senate COVID-19 Instruction and Town Hall Canvas site, please use the Modules “Useful SU Links” and “External Teaching Resources,” and “External COVID-19 Higher Education Resources,” with documents such as Johns Hopkins’ “Open Smart.”  For students, SU’s Center for Student Achievement created a video to support students transitioning to online learning. Additionally, Instructional Design and Delivery has MyClasses support for faculty and students on successful online learning.

Q: How do we address attendance language for syllabi?

A: Faculty need to be reasonable in their attendance expectations due to COVID-19 and technical challenges. Policies will vary faculty to faculty and for different programs. Student Affairs is developing policy statements for students to switch to online learning when warranted.

Q: Because students can add/drop during the first week of classes, how should I assign students to their respective cohorts for appearing in the classroom during hybrid classes?

A: Under the Add/Drop mechanism, all students registering to add F2F and hybrid classes must be admitted by the professor.  

Q: Will Supplemental Instructors still provide course support during COVID-19 operations?

A: Yes. As indicated in the “Coding Classes for Fall” document, GullNet class notes should include whether the class is supported by Supplemental Instruction. Please contact Heather Holmes for more details.

Teaching Modalities and Quality

Q: How will students know how courses will be taught?

A: All SU courses are coded to correctly reflect our usual coding system, with additional instruction notes added, where needed:

• Face-to-face section numbers: 001-410
• Hybrid section numbers: 601-699
• Online course section numbers: 701 – 749
• Remote course section numbers: 750-799

All undergraduate and graduate students received an email on July 10 with information on course sections, including an infographic to explain the four class modalities.

 

Q: Can we require students who choose to stay online to have access to a printer/scanner? Can we make sure that students on campus, including those in self-isolation have such access?

A: It is better to help distance students leverage digital services (e.g. DocuSign, Scannable App, etc.). See for example, the Adobe Scan app to use phones as scanners. On-campus, students can access Student Printing Services at Guerrieri Academic Commons. The SU Bookstore is exploring e-text options for all required texts. They anticipate a no-cost shipping option for remote/online students for course materials. We recommend establishing a centralized printing service through the GAC for remote and online students to email as files to be printed with a pick-up location.

Q: How will faculty evaluations be handled this fall?

A: The tentative plan is to adopt a similar strategy to spring 2020 semester, in which evaluations are administered for instructional reflection, with flexibility about reporting the results as representative of overall teaching effectiveness. Faculty and programs might consider alternatives to student evaluations, such as a student reflective essay, focus group exit discussion, faculty mentor meeting with mentee students, or other options.

F2F and Hybrid Classroom Management and Safety

Q: Will there be language for syllabi regarding face mask requirements?

A: Yes, ID&D and COVID-19 Task Force teams have designed draft Canvas and syllabi statements that faculty can add to their courses. Please see the guidance sent from Human Resources on July 17 and the updated campus mask policy posted above.

Q: Will faculty be required to send students to the new in-person academic assessment site at the Guerrieri Academic Commons Assembly Hall?

A: No. If faculty are teaching F2F and hybrid, they should hold exams in their own classrooms, if safety guidelines permit. Remote and online courses should use online exams. The academic assessment site will be available by reservation for up to 104 students for faculty who need a larger space to proctor in-person exams. Guidance on the in-person assessment site was sent via email on July 11 and is posted on the Faculty Canvas.

Q: I have exponentially more students registered for a class than can fit in my assigned classroom with physical distancing measures in place. What are my options?

A: In these types of situations, SU will work to find a larger classroom, wherever possible. Faculty may still need to rotate students with some attending in-person and some attending virtually. Please consult with your department chair if you require a larger space after reviewing your classroom designation and enrollment in GullNet.

Q: Are there any guidelines for teaching hybrid classes in which half of the students are in the classroom and half attending virtually?

A: How faculty use their class space and time is entirely up to them. The only thing that is inviolable is staying below COVID-19 classroom capacity. Some hybrid faculty are planning to live stream or record within the classroom for distance students.

ID&D is creating resources for best practices for classroom management in person and virtually. The Fulton Remote Teaching Specialists are designing a model to identify one faculty member in each department to learn more about these types of pedagogy challenges in order to share best practices and support colleagues; please see the Faculty COVID-19 Canvas for more information.

Some faculty plan to use mobile technologies that allow for FaceTime, Skype or Hangouts to bring online students into the classroom. The Teaching with Technology Subcommittee is available to address additional technology needs within classrooms. Please contact Robin Hoffman through Knowledgebase if you have specific needs that are not already included in the technology setup.

 

Q: Are faculty required to record and post F2F classes?

A: All hybrid courses (combination of F2F and synchronous sessions) should be live streamed. Recordings of sessions/portions of courses are with the purview of faculty. If faculty have concerns about live streaming sensitive discussions, asynchronous activities could be offered to students who are remote while each team engages in a private discussion. Be sure to include plans for this in your syllabi and/or prominently on your MyClasses site. Feel free to discuss with your dean or chair. Please refer to document on “Safe and Effective Learning Environments.” Additional potential syllabi statements will be shared soon.

Q: What technology will be available in the classroom to facilitate hybrid instruction?

A: The Teaching with Technology Subcommittee is available to address additional technology needs within classrooms. Contact Robin Hoffman through Knowledgebase if you have specific needs that are not already included in the technology setup. Please note: You may not have access to the building you are scheduled to teach in if it is different from the location of your faculty office. You will need to request access.

Remote and Online Teaching

Q: Is there a copyright statement that can be added to classroom recordings stating they are provided for student use during this semester only, and any permanent copying, posting or sharing of these materials is strictly forbidden and a violation of both University policy and copyright law?

A: ID&D and COVID-19 Task Force teams have designed draft Canvas and syllabi statements that faculty can add to their courses. Here is one potential statement on recording:

Lectures are recorded or delivered from written notes and electronic files to guarantee they are protected under Federal Copyright law. You are permitted to take notes of lectures and to use course materials for your use while enrolled this course. You may not record or take photos of lecture material without the instructor’s express consent, and you may not publicly distribute or display - or allow anyone else to publicly display or distribute - course materials, notes or recordings from class in any form without obtaining prior written permission from the instructor. By taking this course you agree to abide by all course policies.

Q: Is there a policy regarding the recording of lectures or discussions that contain potentially sensitive material or a disclaimer about technological errors that can be added to syllabi?

A: ID&D and COVID-19 Task Force teams are designing draft Canvas and syllabi statements that faculty can add to their courses. Faculty can include statements about sensitivity of topics and video- or audio-only instruction.

Campus Health Issues

Q: What is the plan if a faculty member becomes seriously ill and cannot teach?

A: Faculty need to work closely with chairs, directors, deans and administrative staff to ensure that at least one other colleague has access to their Canvas site, syllabus, and course materials in case of an emergency. Department administrative assistants can be added to Canvas courses as teaching assistants to send messaging to students if an emergency arises.

Faculty should arrange colleagues now who can serve as potential designated substitutes for courses, and add them to the Canvas before the semester begins. Chairs should have emergency plans in place to hire potential adjuncts, if necessary. Please see the July 17 Human Resources Sick Leave document on the Faculty Canvas site.

Commonly used personal protective equipment (PPE) distributed to all faculty and staff. (Students will receive PPE through a different process.) PPE has been distributed at the department level, delivered to a central location selected by the department head. Department deliveries are intended to cover the needs of administrative areas, copy areas, break areas, mailrooms and shared equipment areas. Supervisors should devise a process for tracking and dissemination.

Each department has received:

• 50 disposable masks (emergency use)
• 2 containers of Fosters water-based disinfectant spray (not for electronics or keyboards)
• 2 pouches of wet-type wipes for keyboards and touch areas of electronics
• 2 hand sanitizer pump bottles
• 2 rolls of paper towels
• 1 container of aerosol sanitizer spray also for keyboards and electronic touch pads 
• A “central supply” of some items at highest departmental level. Quantities depend on the number of departments included.

Beyond this allotment, departments will be able to purchase replacements or refills from Support Services with departmental budgets.

In addition:

• Each employee has been issued 2 cloth face masks.
• All employees and students will receive an SU care package containing a thermometer, face mask, refillable hand sanitizer bottle, lanyard and safety key.
• A limited number of face shields are available, and more can be ordered upon request.
• Each main building entrance on campus has a hand sanitizer station.
• Classrooms, labs and studios have been supplied with one-gallon dispenser-type containers with disinfectant wipes suitable for high-touch surfaces. 
• Each computer lab on campus has been provided with a refillable disinfectant spray bottle for non-electronics and an aerosol disinfectant safe for use on computers.
• Each reception desk and transaction station has been provided with a clear plastic screen.

We recognize that certain areas and employees have requested specialized PPE. Departments should develop individualized distribution plans for this equipment as it comes in. A list of available standard equipment for departmental purchase, with prices, is available in the PDF below. For questions about ordering and delivery of specialized PPE, please contact Wayne Shelton at wxshelton@salisbury.edu.

Questions about the PPE ordering and distribution process should be directed to the following contacts in each division:

• Academic Affairs: Tara Smith
• Administration and Finance: Jodie Johnson
• Advancement and External Affairs: Lisa Hutson
• President’s Office: Tracy Hajir
• Student Affairs: Robin Evans

• July 17, 2020: Information on Masks, Campus Visitors, ID Requirements and Signage (PDF)
• July 17, 2020: Return to Campus Guidance on Use of Sick Leave (PDF)
• March 17, 2020: UPDATED Guidance for Campus Staff, and Supervisors of Staff
• March 17, 2020: SU's LinkedIn Learning
• March 13, 2020: Guidance for Campus Staff, and Supervisors of Staff

• Salisbury University Telework Agreement (Required)
• Salisbury University Teleworking Plan (Required)
• Salisbury University Policy on Telework (Reference)
• Salisbury University Telework Guidelines (Optional)
• Salisbury University Telework Self-Certification Checklist (Optional)

Salisbury University would like to ensure all faculty and staff have access to resources during the COVID-19 epidemic.  Guidance Resources, SU’s Employee Assistance Program, has information available to help you through this time. 

Resources include:

• Employee Assistance Program
• Account Creation Details
• Coronavirus U.S. Digital Toolkit
• Coping With Uncertainty About the Coronavirus Webinar

Your very first step is to consult Instructional Design & Delivery (ID&D)’s Continuity of Duties in the Event of Remote Work page. Updated as issues arise and situations change, this is your one stop for information on:

• Setting up your Zoom account to hold online meeting.
• Using Voicemail Audio to have your voicemail messages automatically sent to your email. SU is enabling this feature March 12-19.
• Using the VPN to access files from SU’s secure server.
• Downloading the latest version of Microsoft Office @Home.
• Professional development and training resources to support remote work.

Most resources from Salisbury are easily accessible with an internet connection, while others require some set up. Ensure that you understand what you will need to do to access computing resources before you begin working remotely. Take time to test your access to these applications from off campus before planning to work remotely.

IT HelpDesk

In the event that Human Resources announces a need to work from home, HelpDesk support will continue through our Technology Support Center at itsupport.salisbury.edu and through call-in support at 410-677-5454. You will be greeted and asked to leave a voicemail with your technology question. One of our IT Support Associates/Specialists will receive your message and begin working on a resolution. You will either get an email ticket with updates or, if warranted, a direct phone call to continue troubleshooting your issue.

Telephone

Learn how to access your voicemail from home and use other features such as call forwarding and away messaging from the Telecommunications Faculty and Staff Voicemail site.

We encourage faculty and staff to change their existing standard voicemail greeting (Note: do not use the out of office greeting) when/if they start to remote work.  Examples of possible messages are below.

Hello, you have reached the office of ___________ with Information Technologyat Salisbury University.  Due to the current coronavirus situation I will be working from a remote location.  I will be actively monitoring my voicemail and encourage you to leave me your name, telephone or email address along with a detailed message and I will be in contact with you.  Thank you.

If you want to provide callers with an alternative number (i.e. cellular number or home landline) you could change your greeting to the example below.

Hello, you have reached the office of ___________ with Information Technology at Salisbury University.  Due to the current coronavirus situation I will be working from a remote location.  I will be actively monitoring my voicemail and encourage you to leave me your name, telephone or email address along with a detailed message and I will be in contact with you. 

If this is an urgent manner, please call me at 123-456-7890.  Thank you.

The following link will provide you with information on the voicemail system as well as links to “How to” reference guide for changing your voicemail greetings:

• VOICEMAIL INSTRUCTIONS

Providing Accommodations

University employees with disabilities experiencing challenges to complete their job duties while teleworking (that is, inability to use technology, not having the needed assistive technology, software or hardware and so on.) may seek assistance from the Human Resources Office.

If your primary technology issue is that you do not have access to internet service, please see the link below for the best options where available:

• Broadband Access Options

Modalities for Fall 2020

SU offers courses in four modalities in fall 2020. Please see below and the attached infographic for an explanation of each modality. 

• Face to Face (F2F) (Section # between 001-410) – On campus, in person, on set days and times.
• Hybrid (Section # between 601-699) – Some F2F instruction and some virtual instruction.
• Remote (Section # between 750-799) – Virtual instruction that takes place during set days and times; students are expected to attend via video conferencing according to US Eastern Time.
• Online (Section # between 701-749) – Virtual instruction that takes place at any time; assignments have specific due dates.
  Fall 2020 Class Modalities Infographic
  

Visit ID&D First

Your very first step in preparing for online instruction is to consult Instructional Design & Delivery (ID&D)’s course continuity page. Updated as issues arise and situations change, this is your one stop for information on:

• Getting the tools you need to get started:
  • Creating and modifying your MyClasses course home page and menu.
  • Setting up your Zoom account at: salisbury.zoom.us
  • Enabling Panopto in your MyClasses to record lectures and course content.
• Communicating with your students. Learn about the three ways in which you can quickly communicate with all your students
• Starting and modifying your MyClasses courses. Get all the information from building a course for the first time or how to modify what you already have.
• Delivering course content with Panopto. Learn about enabling Panopto and how to use it to record class sessions.
• Using Zoom to conduct live classes online. Learn how to get started, incorporate into MyClasses and schedule class meetings.
• Creating assignments, discussions and assessments and all the best practices tools needed to move this online.

Communicate With Your Students

• Even as you form a plan, use email or MyClasses to communicate with your students.
• For incoming students, this may be their first experience with online learning in higher education. Please communicate how the course may be different, how they might need to adjust their learning strategies, prioritize their work, etc.

• Share your expectations for checking email or MyClasses for information.
• Set up and share office hours when you will be available by phone or online.
• Students will have a lot of questions; manage expectations for how quickly they can expect a response from you.
• Foster communication between students; it provides a sense of community (particularly during unusual times), and it allows you to reproduce any collaboration you build into your course to help keep students motivated to participate and learn.

• It’s possible that some students do not have access to the internet or a computer when away from campus. Please report any access issues you may identify among your students to Associate Provost Rich Wilkens at rtwilkens@salisbury.edu so that we can work to mitigate these. The IT Helpdesk will continue to operate.

• If you’re planning for remote course delivery (i.e., livestreaming instruction), you must adhere to your regularly scheduled course day(s) and time. You may choose an online approach instead, but please be consistent in your choice and communication with students.

Instruction for Fall (PDF)

ID&D is ready to assist you and has set-up several workshops to support you (look for emails from ID&D as well as Melissa Thomas). In addition, the University is purchasing webcams that will be available from ID&D and your dean’s office – look for details to come.

Continue to visit the ID&D Course Continuity page as it is updated to reflect new developments and needs.

Don’t find what you need? Visit the ID&D Support Center to search for more information or put in a request for help.

Your liaison librarian is ready to assist with your transition to online classes in a variety of ways; please see the Faculty tab on the COVID-19 LibGuide linked above.

Salisbury University COVID-19 Clinical, Field Placement and Internship Guidelines for Students

• SU's COVID-19 Clinical, Field Placement and Internship Guidelines for Students (PDF)

The following guidelines apply to all SU students in their clinicals, field placements, and internships:

• Education formats such as clinical, small simulation, field placements, internships, and other similar experiences may continue on a case-by-case basis with approval from the Dean.
• Students should not:
  • Attend clinicals, field placements, or internships if they have been asked to self-quarantine by public health authorities or in accordance with USM guidelines
  • Participate in the care of known or suspected COVID-19 patients
• Clinicals, field placements, and internships will be canceled in the following circumstances:
  • At any site that is treating a patient with COVID-19 where appropriate environmental
    controls cannot be implemented per CDC guidelines
  • At any site when crisis standards of care are used to care for COVID-19 patients
  • At any site unable to provide students with site-specific, appropriate personal protective equipment. Students are encouraged to provide their own face mask/shield. If this is not possible, the University will provide face masks/shields
  • At any site where there is an insufficient level of staff employees to carry out regular duties. Students will neither be expected nor permitted to perform services in lieu of an employee.
• Students must:
  • Communicate with their clinical, field placement, or internship instructor before attending any scheduled experiences to check if cancellation is warranted
  • Immediately communicate to their clinical, field placement, or internship instructor and their school’s clinical, field placement, or internship coordinator any safety concerns and
    stop participating in the experience until the issue is resolved
  • Inform their clinical, field placement, or internship coordinator if they have a health condition that puts them at high risk or have other relevant circumstances (e.g., caregiver for an immunosuppressed family member).
  • Work with their clinical, field placement, or internship coordinator to identify
    educational experiences that reduce their risk while meeting educational requirements.
• For international clinicals, field placements, and internships, travel advisories from the CDC and State Department as well as USM guidance on international travel should be followed.
• Clinical, field placement, and internship sites and/or SU retain the right to cancel student participation at any time to protect the safety of students and staff.
• SU will be compliant with all program specific accreditation mandatory guidance.
• SU will be compliant with all Federal, State, Local and USM mandatory guidance.

Note: All policies are subject to change in the event that new information becomes available or if SU must adjust the policy in light of new federal, state, local or USM regulations and policies.

REVIEWED 3/12/2020

Your Outcomes and Content

• Narrow your focus to the most essential learnings for your course. As you transition online, just pick two to start.
• Review your syllabus. Consider what will change temporarily, what can stay the same.
• Consider what content would students typically be exposed to and how this content can still be made available.
• Use existing materials to support learning: online resources, library services, shared resources from colleagues in your discipline.

Leveraging Technology

There are low-tech and high-tech ways to deliver a course online; explore what works best for you and your content:

Low Technology

• Read textbooks and articles
• Share files through MyClasses
• Share video links through email
• Submit assignments by email
• Submit assignment in MyClasses
• Discuss topics – conference calls
• Communicate over email

High Technology

• Post lecture materials and content in MyClasses
• Complete MyClasses and Turnitin assignments
• Use MyClasses discussion boards
• Use MyClasses quizzes for assessment
• Record Panopto videos
• Host live Zoom meetings
• Communicate using Announcements