Dear Colleagues:
As we continue our preparations for online delivery, I want to encourage you to communicate with your students about what changes, if any, they may experience when they return to classes on Monday, as well as what they can expect from you and what expectations you have of them.
Most students find uncertainties and new learning environments to be stressful, and all students will benefit from your proactive communication that can ease anxieties they may have about when, where, and how they will interact with you for the remainder of the semester.
Many of you have already taken this initiative, following Professor Sivakumar’s email on Tuesday. I have attached a couple of their emails you may use to help craft your own messages to students.
I know most of you have brushed up on your Zoom skills with training this week. In addition, there are several online resources available, including Iowa State University’s Center for Excellence in Teaching that offer terrific ideas that can help you in the coming week create a welcoming, engaging, and inclusive classroom. Please utilize them to welcome your students into your new online classroom.
Go Cougs!
Mary Rezac (she/her/hers)
Dean, Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Washington State University
Email: mary.rezac@wsu.edu
Phone: 509-335-5593
Twitter: @VCEA_Dean
vcea.wsu.edu