Columbus State faculty push for online classes this fall in letter to administration
As coronavirus cases rise in the region, more than 100 Columbus State University faculty members have signed an open letter to University System of Georgia officials, calling for online instruction as the “default mode” for classes.
They acknowledge “other modes of instruction” might be needed “for those disciplines that need it and may feasibly do so safely,” but they insist the following conditions must be met before most classes return to in-person learning on campus during the fall 2020 semester:
- New COVID-19 cases in the Columbus area “show a steady decrease over a period of at least two weeks, as per CDC guidelines,” the letter reads.
- The state government, USG and CSU “have protocols in place to conduct large-scale testing, effective contact tracing, and quarantining of those who have tested positive or have had recent close contact with others who have tested positive,” it also states.
They also demand the administration “immediately develop and implement testing, contact tracing, and quarantining protocols for those students, faculty and staff who need access to campus residences and on-campus laboratories or other specialized facilities.”
Monday, the CSU Faculty Senate met via videoconference and voted 25-0 to request CSU President Chris Markwood to present the letter to USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley. CSU associate professor of kinesiology Alicia Bryan, the senate’s executive officer, told the Ledger-Enquirer that Markwood confirmed he delivered the letter.
Bryan said, as of Tuesday afternoon, the chancellor hasn’t responded to the faculty. CSU spokesman Greg Hudgison referred the Ledger-Enquirer’s request for comment to the chancellor’s office. The L-E will update this story if it receives one.
Meanwhile, in a letter to the USG Board of Regents, 25 of USG’s 26 institution presidents endorsed the plan for returning to in-person classes, the Athens Banner-Herald reported Monday. Kimberly Ballard-Washington, interim president of Savannah State University, is the only campus leader to not sign the letter.
CSU associate English professor Joe Miller told the L-E that the number of signatures on the Columbus State letter represent approximately one-third of the faculty.
The CSU faculty letter concludes, “In summary, we lack confidence that USG’s current plans and protocols for the return to face-to-face instruction are adequate to protect the health and wellbeing of our students and fellow employees, as well as all our families and surrounding communities.”
During the senate meeting Monday, CSU Provost and Executive Vice President Deborah Bordelon updated the faculty with a breakdown of how Columbus State’s 1,889 classes are planned to be taught during the fall semester, according to Bryan’s email to the L-E:
- 33% of are in person, with 10 students or less, automatically defaulted to this format because they meet social distancing requirements. “We were cautioned that this number may be high because student internships, clinical rotations and student teaching assignments are included in this number, even though they will not necessarily be on campus,” Bryan said.
- 36% are extended classrooms, where faculty divide students and alternate the days they are on campus for instruction. “In-class instruction will utilize physical distancing and face coverings,” Bryan said.
- 27% are fully online.
- 4% are hybrid.
Bryan explained the difference between extended classrooms and the hybrid model.
“The hybrid model has a certain percentage of in-class time replaced by online instruction,” she said. “The default mode for the online component is asynchronous. An extended classroom is synchronous formatting that allows students to participate either online or in-person at the scheduled class time. Students swap their online and in-class days so that none feel that they lack the social interaction of the traditional classroom setting.”
As for the choice faculty have for their mode of teaching, Bryan said, “Dr. Bordelon stated they are still working through accommodation requests that have been submitted by faculty to have their courses meet online during the fall.”
This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 3:58 PM.
