Instructional Continuity

We live in a region where we are at risk for extended campus closures due to weather and fire, and now we are systematically preparing for a potential health related pandemic, COVID-19. Preparedness plans help the institution to identify ways to provide temporary remote instruction and to identify instructional support needs for instructors, staff, and students.

Faculty should work with Distance Learning staff and identified faculty mentors who can provide Canvas assistance and ideas for the range of activities needed to support learning during a period of temporary remote instruction, including:

• Providing instruction (through synchronous class time, live and recorded lectures)
• Setting up online office hours (which may be especially important in this situation)
• Setting up discussion groups, group work, and online writing and reflection
• Arranging for how students will submit work online and receive feedback and grades
• Arranging for examinations or exam options

In order to scale up support for faculty in this situation, while the campus remains open, Distance Learning staff will be:

• Holding daily office hours for faculty (in person and virtual)
• Visiting department meetings on request
• Providing one-on-one support for faculty where necessary

Faculty may also contact Distance Learning staff or identified faculty mentors to discuss how to ensure academic integrity. Faculty should hold office hours online, via Canvas, Zoom, or similar, just as they would have on campus. Students may also sign up for office hours online using Google Calendar, Canvas or by sending an email to their instructor with a request for an appointment via other means such as Skype.

Please see the links below for additional resources:

• Instructional, Student Services, and Shared College Resource Information
• Library Services for Faculty

Yes, you will need to ensure that everything you post in Canvas/Online is accessible. For guidance please see the 'Guidance on Accommodations for Students with Disabilities in a Pandemic' document (*Note: this document was developed by Mt. SAC and revised to reflect COS information).

Also, there is a strange phenomenon that has ascended, ZOOMbombing. It’s when uninvited individuals enter Zoom Meetings and disrupt the discussions with vulgar and uninvited language. This typically occurs after a Zoom link has been posted publically. Follow these tips to prevent your lecture and/or meeting from being Zoombombed: How to Avoid the Zoombomb

Please inform your students to:

• Sign-up for COS Connect: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085611736#/login
• Check their email often for updates
• Expect that classes will operate as scheduled unless otherwise notified and, expect to continue participating in classes through a campus closure
• Identify technology means to access their courses remotely in the instance of a campus closure
• Communicate with their instructor(s) if they have questions/concerns

For more information, feel free to direct your students to the Student FAQ page.

If you would like to come onto campus to retrieve some of your files and/or belongings, you will need to email Char Perlas (cperlas@siskiyous.edu) and cc Debbie Goltz (dgoltz@siskiyous.edu) and Melinda Garland (mgarland@siskiyous.edu). In your email include the day, time and location you plan to visit. This process is in place so that we can prevent any unintended spreading of COVID-19 by keeping all areas disinfected.

If you have other questions related to the campus closure please contact the Office of Academic Affairs (instruction@siskiyous.edu). If you have questions related to remote instruction, faculty may also contact the Faculty Distance Learning Coordinator, Maria Fernandez at fernandez@siskiyous.edu.

A move to instructional continuity will not affect Faculty compensation.