1.Spring 2022 Return to Campus Tips Checklist:

  9 Quick Do's And Dont's 

• DO FIRST: If you have not already done so, communicate with your students. Specify how your course will be delivered through January 31, 2022, through any or all of the below channels. Communicate with students that the course will return to its published modality (see Section 3) on January 31, 2022. 
  • Post an announcement on Canvas 
  • Canvas e-mail to students 
  • Regular e-mail to students 
• DO: Create a semester-long plan for consistently checking in on the Health and Wellness of your students. 
  • See the Support a Longhorn Page or Section 2 below for more details. 
• DO NOT: Come to campus if you are sick or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. 
• DO: Communicate to students that they should NOT come to campus if they are sick or exhibit symptoms of COIVD-19. Support that directive through attendance and grading policies, a positive classroom climate, and effective communication (See Section 11). 
• DO: Familiarize yourself with UT Austin's COVID-19 Exposure Action Chart and follow the guidelines. 
• DO: Encourage mask-wearing, testing, and vaccinations in your syllabi and course materials (see Section 8). 
• DO NOT: Ask students for their vaccination or COVID-19 status or disclose a student's personal health information to other students in your courses for any reason. 
• DO:Make sure Zoom is up-to-date (Latest version 5.9.1) and that you are familiar with any new features. 
• DO: Participate in Proactive Community Testing anywhere on campus or at CoFA's testing site for asymptomatic faculty, staff, and students, to re-open on Jan 31, 2022 (see schedule for hours and locations). Find symptomatic testing resources here. 
• DO: Note that as of the Fall 2021 semester, Student Disability Services (SDS) experienced a backlog in appointment scheduling. Students who require accommodations but who have not been able to secure an appointment should be able to present you with an e-mail from SDS communicating this. SDS encourages you to work with the student to provide appropriate accommodations. Contact SDS or Assistant Dean John Turci-Escobar for additional assistance.  See the Spring 2022 message from SDS on creating accessible learning for students. 

University Health and Wellness Resources 

• CARE Counselor for Fine Arts Students 
• CARE (Counselors in Academic Residence) is a program of the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) that places a counselor onsite in colleges across the university to help make it easier for students to get support. CARE counselors also provide information and consultations to faculty and staff. CARE services are confidential.
• UT Health and Wellness Resource Page 
• How to Support A Longhorn: This page includes common signs of potential distress and advice on how to support distressed students. 

3. Modality Guidance 

Until January 31,  2022 faculty are required to teach 100% online or through hybrid dual-mode instruction. 

On January 31, 2022, the University has indicated faculty will return to the modality published in the course schedule or according to formal accommodations granted by the University. 

Below are scripts for you to paste into your syllabus to clearly identify your modality. 

NOTE: Select the language for the Instructional Mode for your course. Copy and paste the language for the appropriate mode in each of these places: 
1) at the top of your syllabus
2) on the Front page of your Canvas course,
3) in early emails or other communication with students. 

For Hybrid Mode, specify the exact meeting expectations in the schedule, also in the syllabus, on Canvas, and in early communications with students. 

IF your course is officially scheduled as a hybrid course, and you plan to offer dual-mode instruction specify that intention under the modality section. 

IFyour course is scheduled as an in-person course, and you do not plan to offer dual-mode instruction, include a specification such as the following in your syllabus, remembering to develop supportive absence policies (See Section 11: "Due to the nature of this course, dual-mode instruction will not be possible for students who are unable to attend in-person meetings."  

Modality Syllabus Scripts 

• Internet (100% Online) Courses: This course is scheduled to meet 100% online during scheduled course times. There will be no required in-person class meetings for this course.  All students are expected to attend virtually according to the attendance policies specified in this syllabus. 
• Face-to-Face Courses: This course is scheduled to meet inperson during scheduled course times. All students are expected to attend in person and according to the attendance policies specified in this syllabus. 
• Hybrid Courses: This course is scheduled as a hybrid with some required in-person and some required remote class sessions during scheduled course times. All students are expected to attend in person or online according to the schedule and attendance policies specified in this syllabus. 

4. CoFA Semester Start Workshops and Office Hours 

• Online and Remote Teaching Refresher  
• Tuesday, January 11, 2022, 2:00–3:15 pm 
• Hybrid Teaching: Basic Do's and Don'ts 
•  Wednesday, January 12, 2022, 11:00–12:15 pm   
• Office Hours Sign Up Here 

5. Remote or Hybrid Teaching Questions?  

Need 1:1 help with teaching? 

• Submit a CoFA teaching support ticket for the fastest response.  
• Contact Assistant Dean Julie Schell via email: julie.schell@austin.utexas.edu 
• CANVAS: Get 24/7 Canvas support here. 
• ZOOM: Get UT Zoom technical support here. 
• UT COMPUTER OR HARDWARE: Call 512-475-9400.
• IN-CLASS TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE: Call the CoFA classroom hotline at 512-232-4400 

6. Spring 2022 Syllabus Requirements and Deadlines 

• Deadline: January 18, 2022 
• At UT Austin,  all undergraduate course syllabi and instructor-of-record CVs are due in the departmental office or dean’s office (in non-departmentalized schools/colleges) by the first day of classes for the semester (Spring, Summer 1 & 2, Fall), unless otherwise specified by your Department. 
• Required Syllabus Content at UT Austin
• https://catalog.utexas.edu/general-information/academic-policies-and-procedures/class-syllabi/

7. Syllabus Development Resources 

• Example Syllabus: UT Austin Faculty Innovation Center Updated Syllabus Sample (Spring 2022) 
• Learning Outcomes: The Importance of Learning Outcomes from Vice Provost Art Markman 
• Editable Syllabus Template:UT Austin Faculty Innovation Center Editable Syllabus Template (Spring 2022) 
• Effective Syllabi:UT Austin Faculty Innovation Centered Effective Syllabi Page 
• General Information on Syllabi:UT Austin Syllabus from the Provost Office 
• Syllabus Calendar Maker Tool: http://wcaleb.rice.edu/syllabusmaker/generic/ 
• Learning Objective Generator: A simple tool to help generate learning outcomes:https://learning-objectives.easygenerator.com/?hsCtaTracking=df2acba7-3bdc-4cac-8396-8c536587cfe7%7Cb537cd1f-9cff-4aa5-9fc2-7f23f281e43d

8. COVID-19 Syllabus Scripts 

NOTE: Copy and paste this information into your syllabus and ensure the links are active in the digital copy you provide to students. If you plan to provide hard copies of your syllabus, also include a digital copy with the links active on CANVAS. 

CLASSROOM SAFETY AND COVID-19 

To help preserve our in-person learning environment, the university recommends the following.

• Adhere to university mask guidance. Masks are strongly recommended, but optional, inside university buildings for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, except when alone in a private office or single-occupant cubicle.
• Vaccinations are widely available, free and not billed to health insurance. The vaccine will help protect against the transmission of the virus to others and reduce serious symptoms in those who are vaccinated.
• Proactive Community Testing remains an important part of the university’s efforts to protect our community. Tests are fast and free. 
• We encourage the use of the Protect Texas App each day prior to coming to campus.  
• If you develop COVID-19 symptoms or feel sick, stay home and contact the University Health Services’ Nurse Advice Line at 512-475-6877. If you need to be absent from class, contact Student Emergency Services and they will notify your professors. In addition, to help understand what to do if you have been had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, see this University Health Services link.
• Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line (BCCAL) remains available as the primary tool to address questions or concerns from the university community about COVID-19. 
• Students who test positive should contact BCCAL or self-report (if tested off campus) to University Health Services.
•  Visit Protect Texas Together for more information.

9. Other Syllabus Scripts 

This link contains a word document with Spring 2022 approved statements you may include in your syllabus. 

The following script is required by UT Austin 

The university is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive learning environment consistent with university policy and federal and state law. Please let me know if you experience any barriers to learning so I can work with you to ensure you have an equal opportunity to participate fully in this course. If you are a student with a disability, or think you may have a disability, and need accommodations please contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).  Please refer to SSD’s website for contact and more information: http://diversity.utexas.edu/disability/. If you are already registered with SSD, please deliver your Accommodation Letter to me as early as possible in the semester so we can discuss your approved accommodations and needs in this course. If you are unable to provide an accommodation letter because you cannot get an appointment with SDS, please provide me with an e-mail from SDS to this effect so that we can discuss your needs. 

10. COVID-19 Guidance 

University-Wide FAQs 
https://protect.utexas.edu/faqs/

What should I do if I have symptoms, have been exposed to someone who tested positive, or test positive for COVID-19 myself? 

• Follow the University exposure action chart. 
• Employees (including student employees) should report symptoms and testing regardless of test results to the Occupational Health Program (OHP) as soon as possible. Contact 512-471-4647 or email healthpoint.ohp@austin.utexas.edu to report COVID-19 symptoms or tests regardless of results. OHP values employee privacy and is following privacy guidelines that allow the university to keep our workplace and co-workers safe while still protecting individual privacy as much as possible. Faculty and staff who are asymptomatic and receive a negative test result through Proactive Community Testing (PCT) do not need to report to OHP.

• Instruct your student to contact BCCAL or self-report (if tested off campus) to University Health Services. Inform the student that personal case managers for students impacted by COVID-19 are available to coordinate support throughout their experience. Encourage students to request assistance with class absence notifications and academic accommodations related to COVID-19. (Students who test positive for COVID-19 should be able to request absence notifications to be sent to you from Student Emergency Services, however, SES will not disclose the reason for the absence. You may also ask/require students to request an absence notification to be generated from SES to you. See Section 11). 

11. Student Attendance Guidance

• As an instructor, you have the freedom to shape your attendance policies in a way that aligns with the learning outcomes for your course and your pedagogical philosophy. According to the University Catalog, "regular attendance at all class meetings is expected. Instructors are responsible for implementing an attendance policy and must notify students of any special attendance requirements." 
• HOWEVER: Students should never come to class if they are sick, or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. This should be clearly noted in your syllabus and supported through classroom and grading policies.  Here is an excerpt of my script: "If you are sick, in particular if you experience any COVID-19 related symptoms, do not come to class. Doing so will put you, and everyone around you, at risk. Stay home, and contact the University Health Services’ Nurse Advice Line at 512-475-6877. If you need to be absent from class, contact Student Emergency Services and they will notify me.  Please also reach out to me, and we will collaborate on an alternate assignment for that day. Because of the nature of our studio, it will not be possible to live stream the course online, however, I promise to work with you to help ensure you succeed."  
• Faculty are not required to provide dual-mode (simultaneous in-person and remote instruction) for absent students, but may do so if they wish. 
• Faculty must provide any absence accommodations specified through official communication from Student Emergency Services or Student Disability Services. 
• COVID-19 Absences: Students who test positive for COVID or have COVID-19 concerns should request an absence notification be sent to you from Student Emergency Services. Document this requirement in your syllabus as noted in Section 8.  
• A note on Attendance and Hybrid-Dual Mode: You are not required to offer dual-mode instruction to students. As noted above, if you do not plan to offer hybrid-dual mode, I recommend the following statement be added to your syllabus: "Due to the nature of this course, dual-mode instruction will not be possible for students who are unable to attend in-person meetings."

12. Additional Resources 

1. CoFA Teaching Website - https://sites.utexas.edu/cofafaculty/teaching/
2. Teaching Tips from CoFA - https://sites.utexas.edu/take5/

13. Instructional Technology Update from UT

Welcome to the Spring 2022 semester!  
 
As you prepare your course(s) for the semester, we hope the list of academic technology resources we’ve assembled in this email will help you be successful.  If you’ve received these emails before, you’ll notice that we’re now including more tools.  Our hope is to bring together a solid toolset to support any mode of teaching and learning and create a hub where all faculty feel supported.  More work is needed, but progress is being made.  
 
Please note the Teaching Protocols section from President Hartzell’s last email.  “We are asking faculty members to teach remotely for the first two weeks of the semester, with a target date of January 31 to return to the originally assigned teaching modality.”   We’re here to support you, so please do not hesitate to reach out if you need help.  Find our contact information at https://utexas.instructure.com/courses/633028.  Onward! 
 
Getting started in Canvas

• Add your TA:  https://utexas.instructure.com/courses/633028/pages/adding-a-ta
• Merge your sections:  https://utexas.instructure.com/courses/633028/pages/cross-listing-sections-combining-courses-in-canvas
• Post your syllabus: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-use-the-Syllabus-as-an-instructor/ta-p/638
• Publish your course:  https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-publish-a-course/ta-p/1185
• Need more help? Attend a webinar, schedule a consult, and other getting started information: https://utexas.instructure.com/courses/633028/
• The Fall 2021 term will end in Canvas on Friday, January 14th at 11:59pm. For help extending fall courses, please visit our tutorial for more information: https://utexas.instructure.com/courses/633028/pages/course-term-dates. 

 
New features, tool changes, and highlights
 
Canvas - https://canvas.utexas.edu

• The New Quizzes timeline has changed, and Classic Quizzes will be available until summer 2024. Attend a workshop and learn more about New Quizzes and how to migrate your Classic Quizzes. For more information and a timeline visit https://bit.ly/3rBg9jU
• Canvas has made improvements that are available as opt-in features
• Assignment Enhancements – Student - https://bit.ly/3xkBsFu. 
• Discussions Redesign - https://bit.ly/3yxqv4M. 
• New Analytics – Online Attendance Report - https://bit.ly/3mZC80U. 
• Interested in a new instructional tool and want to integrate it with Canvas? Check our External Apps page for a list of vetted tools and what to do if your tool isn’t listed. https://utexas.instructure.com/courses/633028/pages/external-apps

Zoom – https://zoom.its.utexas.edu

• Update your Zoom client. On December 20th, the minimum client version was raised to 5.8.4. See https://zoom.its.utexas.edu/zoom-upgrade for more information.  Two new features to highlight are Focus mode and Stop Incoming Video.
• Other new features that can be enabled in your Zoom settings include Saving custom Gallery View Order, new advanced polling and quizzing, allowing alternative hosts to add or edit quizzes, and more. Check your Zoom settings in a browser to review any new features or settings available.
• Record Retention Policy – All Meeting or Webinarrecordings saved to Zoom Cloud storage will be retained for 365 days, after which the recordings will be deleted from the Zoom Cloud, https://zoom.its.utexas.edu/zoom-retention-policy

Panopto – https://utexas.hosted.panopto.com

• Panoptois our recommended video management platform for recording, viewing, sharing, and storing your recorded lectures.  Check out Panopto Made Easy by the UT iSchool for guides and tutorials.
• Automatically transfer your Zoom cloud recordings to your course’s Panopto by opting into the Panopto-Zoom Integration. This integration will move new Zoom cloud recordings scheduled in Canvas to your course’s Panopto folder. 
• Microsoft Teams integration, Canvas Course Copy, and more with the Jan. 8th update.