Office of University Relations 23rd July 2020

ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021 Academic Affairs Fall 2020 Plan

COVID-19 Coronavirus Contingencies

During Academic Year 2020-2021, the Office of Academic Affairs will continue to facilitate a teaching and learning environment that enriches and engages our students and supports the on-time progress towards degree completion. We will do so in a caring, respectful manner which promotes the health and safety of all persons in our community and with the understanding that high-quality courses in modalities suitable to student learning outcomes must continue to be available to all UB students despite the limitations of physical and social distancing.

The principles and recommendations stated below reflect the work of numerous stakeholders within Academic Affairs representing the leadership team, faculty, staff and students from across the academy. As these plans are articulated, we must be prepared to adapt, adjust and react quickly as new and clearer information becomes available.

FALL PREPARATION FOR EMERGENCY REMOTE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION

During the Spring 2020 semester Academic Affairs provided the following training sessions for all faculty:

1. Introduction to Moodle, and 2. Introduction to Virtual Teaching and Learning.

More than 40 sessions were held to help faculty transition to a virtual modality. More than 150 faculty were trained with most persons attending two sessions.

During the Summer Session, Academic Affairs offered an online certificate in which two courses were offered: Introduction to Online Course Authoring and Introduction to Online Learning and Instruction. Approximately 90 faculty signed up for the intensive courses. Another session of these two courses will begin in August with more than 75 faculty already signed up.

During Fall 2020, workshops designed to provide assistance to faculty will continue. The following courses are planned:

• 12-week Certificate Course Authoring | 17 August – 11 November • 4-week Online Teaching Certificate course |11 October – 8 November • 2-Day Online Course Management Certificates (Deans, Chairs and HODs) | August • 16 Advanced Webinars on Pedagogy and Online Tool Usage offered throughout the Fall

semester • Multiple Instructional based short courses in August • Faculty Pre-Workshops and Faculty Seminar | 13-14 August 2020– Carnegie Model, UB

Instructional Delivery Models, Panel Discussion, 60-minute Demonstration on Canvas and Brightspace

UB EMERGENCY REMOTE INSTRUCTION

FALL SEMESTER ACADEMIC CALENDAR – KEY ACADEMIC DATES

Advisement for new students Monday, 10th August - Wednesday, 12th August

Faculty Pre-Workshop Thursday, 13th August 2020

Annual Faculty Seminar Friday, 14th August 2020

First day of classes Monday, 24th August 2020

Mid-semester examinations Monday, 28th September – Sunday, 18th October

Mid-semester break Thursday, 8th October – Sunday, 11th October

Last day to withdraw without academic penalty Friday, 30th October 2020

Advisement/Authorisation begins for Spring 2021 Monday, 2nd November 2020

Classes end Sunday, 29th November 2020

Final examinations Wednesday, 2nd - Friday 11th December 2020

STUDENT ADVISEMENT

Advisement of all students will take place virtually. Audiovisual presentations are being prepared to provide students with the relevant information.

ACADEMIC FORMS

Many forms used by Academic Affairs are available on the UB website in a fillable pdf format; Academic Affairs will continue to monitor this and upload fillable forms as needed. Some of the forms currently available on the website include:

• Course Request Form • Request for Course Extension • Request for Transfer Credit • Request for Directed Independent Study • Request for Course Substitution • Undergraduate Double Major Request From • Undergraduate Dual Degree Request From

COURSES

Currently, 1,154 course sections are scheduled to be offered Fall 2020. The following distribution of courses in the face-to-face and virtual environment is anticipated.

Face-to-Face Virtual SCHEDULE TYPE No. of

Sections SCHEDULE TYPE No. of

Sections Clinical Rounds 6 Laboratory 24 Fieldwork 4 Lecture 664 Internship 3

Lecture and Laboratory 160

Laboratory 35 Lecture and Other 9 Lecture and Field Work 14

Lecture and Practical Hours 1

Lecture and Kitchen 12 Lecture and Seminar 91 Lecture and Studio 10 Lecture and Tutorial 58 Practice Hours 11

Lecture, Lab and Tutorial 2

Student Teaching 4 Other 7 Studio 16 Seminar 22 Total 115

Seminar and Practice Hours 1

10% Total 1039 90%

Studio, Laboratory and Practicum Courses in the Face-to-face Environment

These courses will utilise UB Face-to-Face, UB Real-Time or the UB Flex and will continue with strict social and physical distancing protocols. Hand sanitizing or washing facilities must be readily available in each class. All faculty and students will be required to wear a mask or utilise a face covering at all times. The classroom facilities will have to be assessed to determine maximum capacity.

Teaching Practice, Kitchen Classes, Field Work, Internships and Clinical Rounds

These courses will utilise UB Face-to-Face and UB Real-Time.

Teaching Practice classes will be planned with the opening of schools within the country. Discussions with the Dean and Chair will be ongoing to determine possibilities for Teaching Practice courses.

Kitchen classes will continue with strict social and physical distancing. All faculty and students will be required to wear a mask or utilise a face covering at all times. Mats will be placed at the entrance at each door to lessen the spread of germs. Hand sanitizing or washing facilities must be readily available in each kitchen. Discussions with the Dean, Interim Executive Director and Head of Department indicated that every effort will be made to complete the practical components of the kitchen courses by mid-semester.

We continue to work with our partners in Industry to ensure that Field Work and Internships will commence for Fall 2020. Discussions with the Dean and Chair of Nursing have Internships for Senior Nursing students set to be completed this Fall.

Clinical Rounds for nursing students will be dependent on the Ministry of Health. We continue to work to ensure that these can be facilitated.

Personal and Professional Development

These courses will continue virtually using UB Flex and the UB Online models. They have been uploaded into Elevate and payment accounts have been established. The courses will be marketed throughout the Caribbean by One on One Cooperation. These are set to begin Fall 2020.

Academic Enhancement Courses

These courses utilise UB Real-Time and UB Flex models. Lectures will be held virtually and laboratories will be held on campus following all health protocols.

TESTING SERVICES

Testing Services will continue to operate with strict social and physical distancing protocols. A hand sanitizing station is available in the space and staff have been provided with face shields. Also, temperature monitoring will be utilised for persons within the area.

LIBRARY SERVICES

Although the University libraries will be closed until further notice, library resources will continue to be accessible online at http://www.ub.edu.bs/academics/ub-libraries/. Discussions will continue with the University Librarian to discuss further library plans.

ACADEMIC COUNSELLING AND ADVISEMENT

Counselling services will continue to be offered. Faculty, staff and students will be advised to contact the hotline or counsellors via their email addresses.

ASSESSMENT of FACULTY/STAFF OFFICE SPACES

An assessment of all spaces will be performed to ensure we are able to meet the guidelines on social and physical distancing.

Office of University Relations University of The Bahamas 2nd Floor, Michael H. Eldon Complex University Drive, Oakes Field Campus P.O. Box N-4912 Nassau, The Bahamas Tel: (242) 302-4355/4354/4365 Chartered on 10th November 2016, University of The Bahamas (UB) is a beacon for national transformation. Approximately 5,000 students are enrolled in the University of The Bahamas system which includes campuses and centres on New Providence, Grand Bahama, San Salvador and Abaco, as well as UB online education. UB’s diverse academic programmes, research engagements, athletics and leadership development experiences equip our students to become global citizens in a dynamic world. For more information, visit www.ub.edu.bs.