Dear Colleagues,

I want to thank you for your continued efforts in our transition to online teaching and for, as always, putting our students first.  This is a dynamic situation and my concern in for you and our students, that we ensure safety, well-being, and student access and success. I know that each department has been working with the COEHD IT team and Academic Innovations to  move to online instruction. The President has been sending updates as the situation evolves ( and these are also compiled on the UTSA site https://www.utsa.edu/coronavirus/) . While this health emergency causes concern, we are working to be proactive . 

As you see in the latest updates, UTSA will be moving to a primarily telecommuting workforce. Department Chairs, Associate Deans, and Directors are working to develop plans as we make this transition.  I have asked each unit to create a TEAMS site so that meetings and documents can be easily shared. Additionally, COEHD is providing a zoom subscription to each academic department to enable. meetings, communications, etc. that can be scheduled locally, and hopefully in a way that provides  increased access ( rather than one college subscription available) . I hope that these efforts facilitate our connectivity and operations. 

As we make the transition  to fully online instruction  through the end of the semester, I would ask that you each develop collaborative opportunities in your classes for small groups to get together virtually for discussion, reading groups, group projects, etc. so that students are still an engaged community of learners and they maintain important social contact during times of isolation. As instructors you  can  join these groups,  and/or drop in as groups meet. This can really help with emotional well-being  during social distancing and isolation.  We want to make sure that our students are supported not only academically, but overall  during this time. 

Additionally, I encourage the same for smaller  faculty and staff virtual meetings- these can be focused on best practices,  trouble shooting,  professional learning communities, mentoring, etc. , just to give a way for us to maintain connectivity during this time.

We will continue with updates and support during this time.

Thank you all.

Best,

Margo

Margo DelliCarpini, Ph.D.

Vice Provost for  Strategic Educational Partnerships and Dean of the College of Education and Human Development

President's Distinguished Professor

The University of Texas at San Antonio

One UTSA Circle

San Antonio, TX 78249

T: 210.458.4370

F: 210.458.4487