Change to Face Covering Requirement

Yesterday afternoon, HR communicated a significant change to Northwestern's face covering requirement effective Monday, 5/24, at 6 a.m. Students also received a similar message yesterday about the change in protocols. I would like to express my appreciation for the work of the Resurgence Analysis Team and Academic Continuity Team in thoughtfully and swiftly responding to last week's statewide masking requirement changes. This is an important step on our journey toward the new normal at Northwestern.

I would like to call your attention to a few specific points from HR's communication as you consider the impact of this change:

• 6-feet social distancing guidelines remain in place for classrooms and all other campus areas until further notice. In academic lab settings where 6-feet distancing is not possible, face coverings are strongly recommended. Additional protective equipment in labs may be required for specific activities.
• A virtual meeting option should be offered for all in-person meetings. To protect employee privacy, meeting organizers should not inquire why an employee cannot attend a meeting in person. A variety of reasons may exist regarding an individual's desire not to meet in person. 
• Faculty who are concerned about the new guidance allowing face coverings to be removed in the classroom should submit a request for a personal accommodation or flexible teaching modality arrangement. By doing so, you can initiate a conversation about other alternatives (e.g., moving to a larger classroom, moving to a classroom with increased ventilation, requesting a change in modality, etc.). Requests will be reviewed and considered through HR in cooperation with Academic Affairs.

My hope for our community is that the transition to this change will be smooth. As always, thank you for showing grace, understanding, and patience, especially during times of change.

As we move into the summer, the P6 team and SLT will continue to regularly monitor the institution's health and response to COVID-19, along with any new guidance from Governor Walz, MDH, and CDC. Please be on the lookout for further communication and details on our fall planning efforts and community expectations as those are developed. 

Summer Professional Development with You in Mind

One of the best ways for you to prepare for the fall semester and beyond is to take advantage of upcoming professional development opportunities available this summer to all faculty at no cost. These valuable opportunities, provided by the Online Learning Office and Academic Technology, will effectively prepare you to leverage current technology tools to improve your teaching by providing flexible and dynamic instruction for your students.

The Improving Your Online Course (IYOC) workshop will be offered in June, and the Best Practices in Online Teaching (BPOT) course will be offered in July. These valuable courses, which can be included in your professional development plan (due by June 30), will effectively prepare you to provide instruction in a virtual format should the need arise. We will also have incentives for participating in these opportunities.

Our incentives this year range from a headset or monitor to a wireless keyboard or mouse bundle. You can see the full list, find out more information, and register for these opportunities at https://confluence.unwsp.edu/x/qQbpBg.

The Flourishing Teacher

“Teaching is a Sacred Profession to which you are called”- Dr. Christina Bieber Lake (our keynote speaker for Fall Faculty Workshop 2021)

If 2020-2021 has dampened your fire for teaching, or if you are in need of a reminder of why you do what you do, consider adding The Flourishing Teacher to your summer reading list. Discover a few specific strategies to help reset your approach to courses, scholarship, and maintaining stamina. The book is a wonderful read and structured according to the academic calendar, beginning with “the-month-that-shall-not-be-named” (August) and concluding with July.

Dr. Christina Bieber Lake states, “I wrote this book to encourage you to rediscover your passion for your profession, to help you move from surviving to thriving, and to remind you why you chose this vocational path.” She was recently featured on the Christian Scholars blog to discuss highlights from her book.

I hope that throughout the summer you will find refreshment and renewed joy, enabling you to flourish in your professional and personal life.

A full e-copy of the book is available for reading online through our Library by clicking on the image below.