What would be one (or more, if you’d like) of your guiding principles for designing a Fall Semester at your #highered institution within the context of #covid19? These would be the values that underpin any decisions. I’ll go first… (thread)

My first one is a gimmie: that the health and well-being of all community members is the central priority.

Second: any assessment of learning would be based on students demonstrating competency, or the achievement of learning outcomes, NOT time spent on a learning task.

Third (and these aren’t in a ranked order): academic quality of courses and programs a priority, but have to be contextualized within the limits enacted by the pandemic (see my first principle).

Fourth: equity of access can’t be assumed. We know that not all students (instructors, staff) have the same stable internet, the same computers. Home places are not necessarily distraction-free.

Fifth: we need to consider (and support) the whole learner. This is bigger than any individual; for example institutional learning, well-being “supports” available for learners regardless of their location.

Sixth: (informed by @Eliza_Cawley): recognizing financial insecurity, the financial impact of decisions on students are considered.

Seven: clear and frequent communication (at the institutional, academic unit and course level) key to a successful semester.