COVID-19 SCS Instructor FAQ

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Courses offered by McGill University during the Fall 2020 semester will be delivered remotely (except for a select number of University-level approved in-person courses and other curricular activities). Courses that were designed to be delivered fully online will continue to be delivered in that mode.

 

The School continues to work closely with colleagues across McGill University to ensure ongoing development and delivery of high quality courses and programs while prioritizing the health and safety of students, SCS employees  and the wider community. We are also committed to providing a variety of pedagogical training events for SCS instructors during this now extended period of remote teaching.

 

This page includes answers to frequently asked questions from teaching staff. If you are in doubt, please contact the relevant director or program, area, or course coordinator.

 

Please know that the School of Continuing Studies is here to support you. We will provide the most up-to-date information as we receive it, and this page will be updated frequently as the situation develops.

 

University Resources

 

How often will I receive updates from the School during this extended campus closure period?

The School has established an Emergency Planning Taskforce (EPT) that meets every week so as to ensure that essential operations can continue as smoothly as possible. We are also holding regular town halls for teaching staff, which we encourage you to attend. This FAQ page will be updated as new information becomes available, so please check back on a regular basis.

 

Can I access my office or the building during the closure?

Although McGill remains operational and has begun to ramp-up in-person activities, campus access continues to be restricted to authorized employees. Should you have a legitimate need to access the building or your office, please make note of the following directives:

  • You must send a written request for access to the director of the relevant SCS unit.
  • The director will then contact the 680/688 Building Manager to ensure that your McGill ID card has been added to the security card-reader.
  • You MUST complete the COVID-19 DAILY health-check self-assessment form PRIOR to coming to campus.

Note that during Phase 5 of the University’s resumption plan, the School is obligated to ensure that no more than 30% of employees are in the building at any one time. Priority will be given to student-facing staff.

 

Can I work alone in my office during the Fall 220 semester?

During Phase 5 of the University’s resumption plan, the School is obligated to ensure that no more than 30% of employees are in the building at any one time. Priority will be given to student-facing staff. Thus, working alone in your office is possible provided that 30% occupancy can be maintained. Furthermore, you must follow these directives:

  • You must send a written request for access to the director of the relevant SCS unit.
  • The director will then contact the 680/688 Building Manager to ensure that your McGill ID card has been added to the security card-reader.
  • You MUST complete the COVID-19 DAILY health-check self-assessment form PRIOR to coming to campus.

 

Can I record lectures for my classes in McGill studios or labs?

During Phase 5 of the University’s resumption plan, the School is obligated to ensure that no more than 30% of employees are in the building at any one time. Priority will be given to student-facing staff.  Thus, recording lectures on campus is possible provided that 30% occupancy can be maintained. Furthermore, you must follow these directives:

  • You must send a written request for access to the director of the relevant SCS unit.
  • The director will then contact the 680/688 Building Manager to ensure that your McGill ID card has been added to the security card-reader.
  • You MUST complete the COVID-19 DAILY health-check self-assessment form PRIOR to coming to campus.

 

Will I be able to contact administrative staff during the closure?

Yes. Administrative staff in all units, including Client Services, continue to work remotely, and many will gradually return to work on campus during Phase 5. It may take longer than normal for you to receive a response, so we ask for your patience and understanding.

 

I had a package shipped to my office. Will the package I’m expecting be received?

The University's central mailroom remains open and is receiving packages. However, deliveries around campus remain suspended. Any mail received will remain in the central mailroom until further notice. You might therefore prefer to arrange for any future orders to be delivered directly to your home. If you are waiting for an urgent delivery, please contact SCS Building Manager, andree.lahaise [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Andrée LaHaise), for assistance.

 

What resources are available to support instructors who are teaching remotely?

All McGill instructors teaching in fall 2020 have been provided with a licensed Zoom account in order to be able to host remote teaching events. Zoom is fully integrated with myCourses.

 

Instructors teaching courses administered by the School should consult the instructor resource page on our website.

 

You are strongly encouraged to consult the Disruption to Classes webpage on the McGill Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) website and the TLS Remote Teaching Guide

 

For more general information about working remotely, please consult this McGill IT Knowledge Base article.

 

I’m concerned that my course evaluations might be negatively impacted by the disruption to classes. Has the University addressed these concerns?

Yes. The University has mandated that instructors have the right to decide whether or not their course evaluations  should “count” in their performance assessments.
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