Colleagues,
I’m writing to follow up on the campus message found on the Flexible Fall at PSU webpage regarding fall term instruction. First, I want to express my gratitude to all of you for your contributions to our deliberations as we undertook the process of determining how fall term instruction would take place.
In response to my message from May 27 entitled Update on Fall Term Instruction asking for your feedback on fall term instructional scenarios, I received over 65 pages of responses that ranged from brief statements of preferences to extended comments on the impacts the pandemic is having on teaching. Mostly, I heard your interest in prioritizing the health and wellness of all members of the PSU community as we continue to try to respond to a virus for which we do not yet have a vaccine or effective treatment. Based on your feedback and that of students, PSU has decided to have a largely remote fall term. We are calling the term “Fall Flex” because, in contrast to spring and summer terms, some other class options will be available.
The majority of PSU classes will continue to be Remote. I am excited to share that over four hundred faculty have signed up for the Summer Professional Development for Remote Learning workshops that have been developed by the Office of Academic Innovation. These workshops support and provide compensation for faculty who wish to enhance their ability to incorporate effective pedagogies into a remote format. I’m really proud of this strong commitment by PSU faculty to ensure that students will continue to have the high-quality instruction they have come to expect.
While most classes will be remote, other options are available for fall term as well:
  • In-Person Courses: This option will be available for smaller classes where an in-person experience is most effective for student learning. Because student and faculty safety is our highest priority, we will be following OHA guidelines for in-person classes, including that all students will be required to wear masks. In addition, preparations include: limiting the number of students who can attend a class in person, changing furniture layout/spacing, making HVAC modifications to improve filters and increase outside airflow, and adding free-standing portable air cleaners in some rooms.
  • Online Courses: PSU will continue to offer its existing catalog of fully online courses.
  • Dual Delivery (i.e.Flex Courses): These classes will take advantage of enhanced technology capabilities to allow students and faculty to choose formats that are best suited to meet learning goals and that provide the flexibility to accommodate public health requirements. This dual-delivery strategy will enable students to sign up for either an in-person or a remote sub-section of a single course.
I’m excited to share that we have been able to add enhanced Zoom technology to over one hundred PSU general assignment classrooms that will enable faculty to teach to students attending remotely. The university committed CARES Act funding to create these “Hi-Flex” classrooms, and installation is taking place over the summer.  I’m grateful to the Office of Information Technology for their partnership in this effort. OIT created a short video entitled Scheduling a Zoom Classroom to show how these classrooms will work.
Decisions about which courses will be offered in which format will be made at the department/unit level in consultation with the College/School Dean. Many Colleges and Schools have been discussing this question and have already determined how they want to approach fall term instruction. Instructions on how to indicate course modalities in the revised schedule will be sent by the Registrar to department chairs and associate deans later today. While a majority of students indicated a preference for remote classes, a number shared that they have difficulty learning in remote environments. I ask that each department/unit consider offering some opportunities for in-person experiences that can be available to this population of students, such as the Dual Delivery course option. 
A concern we heard from students was about access to technology. As in the spring, we are prepared to make laptops, headsets, and wifi hotspots available to students this fall. Again, we are appreciative that we are able to use CARES Act funding for this purpose.
A final concern we heard from students was about difficulties studying in distracted environments. To assist in addressing this, we are working to create safe on-campus study areas for students who need an alternate place to study.
Finally, we are working to develop guidelines for students to access specialized learning spaces, such as studios and labs, that may supplement their classroom experiences.  
Throughout this process, I have been in active consultation with Isabel Jaén-Portillo, Past Presiding Officer of the Faculty Senate, and with Michele Gamburd, Presiding Officer. Their counsel has been pivotal in our deliberations, and I am grateful for their leadership and guidance throughout this process. 
I am committed to keeping you informed as to all of the actions we take in Academic Affairs. For a complete list of OAA COVID-19 communications, please see the Coronavirus Academic Response webpage.
Thank you for your continued commitment to our students and to our entire PSU community as we adapt to this pandemic environment.  I believe that PSU’s decisions are informed, consultative, and appropriately cautionary.  I thank you for your patience and resilience as we navigate these complex pathways. 
Susan Jeffords, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic
Affairs
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