Letter from Thomas D. Jeitschko

Dear Faculty and TA Colleagues,

In responding to the global epidemic associated with the novel coronavirus, the president sent an email to the Spartan community noting that:

Classes at MSU

Effective today at noon (March 11, 2020), MSU is suspending face-to-face instruction in lectures, seminars and classroom settings and moving coursework to virtual instruction. This suspension of in-person classes will last until Monday, April 20 and we will reevaluate this decision on an ongoing basis, sharing additional updates or modifications as more information becomes available.“

I am writing to request your support, understanding and consideration—as well as your enterprise—as we move the campus to a digital environment. This will result in many challenges and may require innovative thinking around how to achieve class learning objectives and assessments. We are here to facilitate that process and have developed best practices for teaching courses remotely should we pivot to modified operations. The resource to support educators in moving courses to online instruction is keepteaching.msu.edu. The recommendations on the site will help you Plan, Modify, and Implement remote teaching strategies. I appreciate the flexibility and creativity of all faculty and TAs concerning expectations around work assignments to accommodate the implied changes, but want to also emphasize that TAs cannot be asked to nor be expected to serve in this effort beyond their obligations under their contracts and or visa restrictions for international TAs.

Thank you!

Thomas D. Jeitschko

Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for Graduate Education