COVID 19: Academic Continuity

The information shared on this page is for faculty, department chairs and deans and relates to the Fall 2020 semester including course scheduling, classroom protocols, teaching accommodations, health and student life as related to academic programming. Additional information for students and other UD stakeholders, as well as answers to frequently asked questions, can be found on UD’s Return to Campus website.

Academic Affairs Town Halls | Will Resume Later This Fall

Beginning Friday, June 26, 2020 the Office of the Provost hosted weekly virtual town halls to address updates and questions related to UD’s academic operations for fall 2020. These town halls for faculty and staff were offered every Friday from 1-2 p.m. through September 18, 2020. Recordings and FAQs from those town halls are available below.

The town halls will return later this fall as additional updates and plans require. To submit suggestions for future town halls, please write to UD-Provost@udel.edu.

Town Hall materials

A PDF with the running list of questions and updated answers related to Academic Affairs as addressed in the Town Halls from July 10 forward is available at this link. Faculty/staff login is required. Please view the recordings and see the transcripts for each individual town hall for detailed information.

  • September 18: Updates on Academic Operations – Moderated by Matt Kinservik, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, joined by José Luis Riera, Vice President for Student Life, Alison Parker, Richards Professor and Chair, History; Ted Davis, Professor, Political Science & International Relations; Lynnette Overby, Professor, Theater; and Michael Vaughan. Interim Vice Provost for Diversity & Inclusion.
  • September 11: Promoting Student Success through Distance Learning – Moderated by Matt Kinservik, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. Department chairs, associate chairs, and undergraduate program directors are especially encouraged to attend.
  • September 4: Updates on Academic Operations – Moderated by Matt Kinservik, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, joined by Dawn Berk, Director, Mathematical Sciences Learning Laboratory; Brad Wolgast, Director, Center for Counseling and Student Development; Avron Abraham, Faculty Director, Center for Academic Success and University Studies; and Jennifer Follett, Director, Writing Center.
  • August 28: Updates on Academic Operations – Moderated by Deputy Provost Lynn Okagaki joined by Provost Robin Morgan; Amanda Steele-Middleton, University Registrar; Doug Zander, Executive Director of Admissions; and Adam Cantley, Dean of Students.
  • August 21: Updates on Academic Operations – Moderated by Deputy Provost Lynn Okagaki joined by Sandra Millard, Deputy University Librarian and Associate University Librarian for Public Services and Outreach; Charlie Riordan, Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Innovation; Laura Field, Professor and Chair, Finance; and Carolyn Levine,  Professor and Chair, Accounting and Management Information Systems.
  • August 14: Updates on Academic Operations – Moderated by Deputy Provost Lynn Okagaki joined by Dr. Tim Dowling, Director, Student Health Services.
  • August 7: Updates on Academic Operations – Moderated by Deputy Provost Lynn Okagaki joined by Beth Morling, Professor, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Amanda Steele-Middleton, University Registrar; and José Riera, Vice President for Student Life.
  • July 31: Updates on Academic Operations – Moderated by Deputy Provost Lynn Okagaki joined by Matt Trevett-Smith, Director, Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning; Amanda Steele-Middleton, University Registrar, and Matt Kinservik, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.
  • July 24: Updates on Academic Operations and Student Life – Moderated by Deputy Provost Lynn Okagaki joined by José Luis Riera, Vice President for Student Life; and Matt Kinservik, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.
  • July 17: Updates on Academic Operations – Moderated by Deputy Provost Lynn Okagaki joined by George Irvine, Associate Vice Provost for Professional and Continuing Studies; Matt Kinservik, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; and Paul Hyde, Manager, Academic Technology Services.
  • July 10: Updates on Academic Operations – Moderated by Deputy Provost Lynn Okagaki joined by Amanda Steele-Middleton, University Registrar; Matt Kinservik, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; and George Irvine, Associate Vice Provost for Professional and Continuing Studies.
  • June 26: Special Town Hall on Student Health and Campus Life – Moderated by Deputy Provost Lynn Okagaki with guests Dr. Tim Dowling, Student Health Services, and José Luis Riera, Vice President for Student Life.

Resources for Online Teaching

Additional Resources for Fall 2020 Teaching

  • General Protocols for Academic Units | Fall 2020 (PDF – login required)
  • Instruction Protocols for Academic Units | Fall 2020 (PDF – login required)
  • Students’ Rights and Responsibilities for Clinical Placements (login required)
  • Students’ Rights and Responsibilities for Non-Clinical Placements (login required)
    • The procedures in these documents are based upon current public health guidance and are subject to change. They represent the University’s best attempt to allow for meaningful instructional in-person classroom experiences while keeping the health and safety of all UD community members paramount. To be clear: these are not recommendations; they are rules.
  • Faculty Accommodations
    • Faculty are to work with their department chairs with regard to in-person versus online teaching. Department chairs have been directed to accommodate faculty requests regarding teaching schedule and the modality of instruction both for health concerns and ongoing caregiver needs. No faculty members will be required to teach in person if they prefer not to. Some faculty members may wish to register a medical condition with the Office of Disability Support Services using the standard form and process. The ADA form is necessary when (1) there is a dispute between the faculty member and the department chair and/or (2) the faculty member elects to use the form at the outset (mainly for privacy reasons).