The University of Florida has decided it’s time to start moving to virtual teaching as COVID-19 spreads in Florida.
UF Provost Joe Glover sent a memo to academic deans Monday recommending that instructors move their courses from face-to-face delivery to online, effective immediately, wherever possible.
While online teaching isn’t mandatory, the university said on its website: “There is a strong probability that it will become a requirement before the end of the spring semester, and so instructors are encouraged to transition now.”
The university said instructors are responsible for notifying their students in advance about the shift to the online format and to communicate regularly with them about expectations surrounding assignments, exams and other issues.
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For now, UF is planning its summer session as originally scheduled, but warned circumstances could require those classes to be delivered online as well.
To date, there have been no documented cases of the coronavirus in Alachua County, which is where UF's main campus is located. As of Tuesday morning, there were 20 positive cases of COVID-19 across Florida. Two Florida residents have died due to the virus.
COVID-19 and online classes (03/09/20): https://t.co/lHJ0CkXzrd— FLORIDA (@UF) March 9, 2020
Hey instructors @UF, I’m the instruction and outreach librarian, and I have a lot of experience teaching students online. I can answer questions or point you to tools and resources. I encourage folks to be inclusive, student-centered and as flexible as you can.— Lisa Campbell (@lisabouff) March 9, 2020
Stay healthy, Gators. pic.twitter.com/gdboPxPaf9— FLORIDA (@UF) March 7, 2020
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
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