Continuity Team Updates for the Week of July 6th

Dear FSU Community,

Below are the Continuity Team updates for the week of 676. The community is invited to continue sending in thoughts and feedback to c19suggestions@framingham.edu.  

Key Dates Moving Forward: 

July 10th – Deadline for returning resident students to withdraw from housing without penalty.

July 13th – Student bills issued.

July 15th – Start of University’s gradual repopulation of campus offices.

July 15th to August 15th:

  • Periodic repopulation as needed for ongoing work requirements and to prepare for August Repopulation (e.g. safety preparations, install plexiglas, staff scheduling, rearrange furniture, relocations, etc…).
  • All signage established on campus.
  • Employee health & safety training conducted.
  • Telework agreements re-reviewed by supervisors to verify validity for fall 2020.

August 1st – Deadline for first-year students to withdraw from housing without penalty.

August 3rd – Student bills due date.

August 10th – Student drop for Non-payment of bills.

Week of August 16th - Deans and VPs will determine and authorize on-campus and off-campus remote service hours and the level of staffing for each area.  These schedules will be publicized via the web and on office hours.

August 26th –  Move-in date – residential life staff.

August 27th – Move-in date(s) – residential students.

September 2nd – First day of the Fall semester.

Continuity Team Updates for the Week of June 29th:

Academic Affairs Continuity Team:

  • Robin Robinson from ETO led a discussion on the policies and standards for the Lecture Capture technology and took feedback from the group.
  • In collaboration with ETO and CELTSS, the subcommittees on Online/Remote Learning and on Face-to-Face (F2F) Teaching will be hosting an “Unconference” on July 15th and 16th to share experiences and provide support to their colleagues.  Subcommittee members identified overlapping issues facing instructors teaching both F2F and remotely this fall. Issues include methods for building class cohesion and community both online and in split classrooms, methods for one-on-one conferencing, and small group work.  

Administrative Services Continuity Team

The Administrative Services Continuity Team will review and provide input on the following plans during the month of July: 

  • July 16: Plan for Return to Learning and Working on Campus; Danforth Museum Plan
  • July 23: Residence Hall Plan; Dining Plan; Bookstore Plan
  • July 30: Athletics Plan; Child Care Center Plan; Remaining Centers/Other Plans; Review of prior reviewed plans issues
  • August: Implementation Updates

 Broad Spectrum Continuity Team:  

  • The group heard a report on signage preparation and usage on the campus.  The communications departments and facilities department will be providing designs and materials that will be deployed no later than mid-August in preparation for the repopulation of the campus.
  • A COVID—19 testing solution has been reviewed and may be contracted for later this week.
  • The University’s Public Health & Pandemic Plan has been re-reviewed and edited to reflect university operations during an ongoing pandemic.  It will be reviewed by the Executive team for approval and adoption.

Enrollment Management Continuity Team:

  • Remote Campus Tours.  Starting this week, the Admissions Office began scheduling remote campus tours (Monday – Friday; approximately 45 minutes).  The FSU student tour guide led Zoom session incorporates the campus map followed by numerous photos relating to traditional tour stops.  Q&A will be encouraged throughout the tour and monitored by the tour guides.  Prospective students who participate in a remote campus tour will receive an application fee-waiver.
  • Converting print brochures to web-friendly documents.  Discussions are underway to convert printed recruitment brochures to versions that can viewed easily online and as email attachments.

Instructional Continuity Team:

The Instructional Continuity group met on July 8 to discuss the results of the faculty survey and the topic of Instructional Continuity for Teaching and Learning. 

  • Faculty survey on remote learning: A high-level summary of the recent Faculty Remote Learning Survey, answered by 160 faculty, highlighted areas of focus for the Instructional Continuity group, including student access to technology and training, concerns for engaging students, building community online, and support for the technology. Work in these areas is in progress.
  • Instructional Continuity Tools: The group reviewed materials to support teaching modalities in the fall. The suggestion is to consolidate the instructional materials to make information more manageable and actionable so it can facilitate conversations within departments and other working groups. 

Student Programs and Support Continuity Team:

The team did not meet this past week, but has an e-mail prepared for students that will be sent out by Monday detailing the availability of campus engagement and support offices during the fall semester.