COVID-19 Policies
A/B Meetings
As our class exceeds the maximum recommended capacity of our classroom under social distancing guidelines, we will be following the A/B schedule for our class meetings. This means that only half of you will attend in person classes each day, with the rest of you attending virtually through a live Zoom meeting. A schedule will be posted on Blackboard before the start of the semester indicating which group you’re in and what days you should plan to come to the classroom.
Face Masks
As per the COVID-19 Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Policy, Mercyhurst University is requiring that all members of the campus community wear a cloth or disposable face covering over their nose and mouth when on campus. Please refer to the policy for specific details as to where and when face coverings are required. Students may use their own face coverings or those provided by the University. A student in need of a face covering should email covid19@mercyhurst.edu or call 814-824-3600 to find the nearest location where face coverings are available. The University’s Mask/Face Coverings Policy will be enforced in this class.
Sanitation and Safety
In keeping with the COVID-19 Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Policy, students are expected to use hand sanitizer and to wipe down their desks using disinfectant wipes when they enter and exit the classroom. Classrooms have been provided with sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for student and faculty use.
Eating and Drinking in the Classroom
In light of the COVID-19 situation, Eating is not permitted in classrooms, labs, or other academic spaces. A water bottle or cup with a lid, and straw preferably, is permitted to be used in classrooms and labs to help prevent a student from becoming uncomfortably parched. Masks should be pulled only slightly away from the bottom of the face to take a quick drink and immediately replaced to covering the mouth and nose.
Class Dismissal and Congestion Prevention
In keeping with the COVID-19 Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Policy, faculty members and students should take steps to avoid crowding outside of classrooms, in hallways, and any enclosed area in university buildings. All rooms will be designated with signs indicating maximum capacity for specific instructional use. These must always be adhered to. Students waiting to enter classrooms or exiting classrooms should always maintain a minimum of 6 feet of distance from others. Class time endings may be adjusted when necessary to minimize overcrowding or congestion.
Seating Charts
In compliance with federal and state regulations, the University must be able to conduct contact tracing if there is a positive test or an outbreak; therefore, seating charts are mandatory for all in-person classes. Students will be required to sit in the same seat in the classroom each time they attend class. The seating chart will be available for review for purposes of contact tracing.
Paper Sharing Policy
We will not be exchanging paper this semester. Supplemental materials will be distributed and made available electronically. Assignments and exams will be submitted electronically as well. You are welcome to bring your own paper to class to take notes, but you may not pass paper to a classmate or to me.
Attendance and Missed Classes
Attendance at all classes is expected. However, it is important that students and course instructors adhere to the university’s COVID-19 mitigation policies and strategies. As such, a student who misses class due to illness or suspected illness within the context of those policies will not be penalized and will be provided sufficient means to make up any missed course content or work and remain actively engaged in the class.
The word “attendance” has a broader definition than usual this semester. While attending class is preferred, please do not feel obligated to come if you are feeling ill. You are free to join and participate in the live Zoom meeting in lieu of attending a class meeting, regardless of your A/B schedule. If you’re not up to joining in, please watch the recording of the class meeting and the associated video lectures when you’re able to.
If you are unable to attend class (or join the live Zoom meeting) for more than a few days, please let me know as soon as possible. I am happy to work with you in building a plan that allows you the time off you need without risking your academic progress.
Potential Class Changes
It is my hope that we remain able to meet in person as scheduled for the entire semester. However, there is a very good chance that our plans will change, and without much notice.
If we are unable to continue meeting in person, you will still have the opportunity to “attend” class via Zoom during our regularly scheduled times. The course content on Blackboard was created to help fill in any unexpected gaps in meetings or attendance.
Our highest priority is to remain healthy and safe. We will all need to remain responsible, flexible, and understanding to make this semester a success, and I have full confidence that we will be able to achieve that goal.