Steps you can take to help navigate the rest of the semester

Dear Faculty and Instructors,

As we approach the end of classes and final exams, we want to thank you for all the support, care, and flexibility you have shown to your students and to one another through this unpredictable year.

In addition to the steps that the Institute is taking due to the increase in Covid-19 positives in our community, we want to remind you of steps you can take to help navigate the remaining weeks of the semester.

• Instructors who have any concerns about potential academic disruptions, including exams, should talk to their department heads or DLC leaders as soon as possible.

• The guidance, best practices, and policies, developed earlier this semester to support academic continuity, remain in place. In particular, if you are temporarily switching to Zoom teaching for less than 25 percent of the contact hours for the semester, no approvals are needed. You may also want to consider smaller changes, like moving some meetings to Zoom and/or not having food at related in-person events.

• TLL maintains a set of robust academic continuity resources, including a link to the faculty and instructor Piazza discussion forum.

• For students who are isolating and enrolled in an in-person class, there are light-lift resources instructors can use. Self-service (via MIT ID) vending machines, containing microphones, HDMI connectors, masks, etc., are also now available in locations across campus.

• Questions about rules and regulations regarding assignments and final exams, especially assignments or tests planned for the very end of the semester, can be directed to: exam-termregs@mit.edu.

• Covidclasshelp@mit.edu serves as a clearinghouse for a range of questions and requests from instructors and students.

This year has not been easy. Each day has been a balancing act, especially for all of you providing students with a stellar educational experience—and we are grateful for all that you are doing and continue to do.

In the remaining weeks of the semester, don’t hesitate to reach out to us, your department head, and/or to one another.

Sincerely,

Lily and Ian

Lily Tsai, Chair of the Faculty

Ian A. Waitz, Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education