Instructional

Hunter College is offering approximately 5,500 course sections for Fall 2020. Our campus has moved deliberately—and expeditiously—to adjust the delivery of our courses to be consistent with the Chancellor’s email of July 10, 2020.  President Raab convened the “Focus on the Fall Committee,” comprised of faculty, staff, students, and administrators, to determine the most appropriate course modality for each course section. In addition, members of this committee met with individual deans and department chairs to discuss the particular academic needs for their respective units.

It was determined that the overwhelming majority of Hunter’s course sections would be offered in a fully remote format for Fall 2020 (97%) and Spring 2021 (90-95%).  For a relatively small and focused group of courses, it was determined that there was an essential academic need for in-person delivery, either in a Hybrid or In Person modality.  These in person activities comport with those outlined by the Chancellor: they are in Lab, Clinical, Internship, Art, and Physical Therapy, with the addition of Performing Arts in the Spring.  The responsible parties for each of these courses have developed a preliminary safety plan that is broadly consistent with the NYS and CUNY guidelines.

The following list of activities is planned and underway for instructional space:

Stage 0: Determine which courses have academic requirements for in person activities (Complete as of 7/30/2020)

• Disseminate information about the guidelines for in person and hybrid activities to all Deans and Chairs.
• Task Deans and Chairs to discuss in person activities with their respective faculties.
• Meet with Deans and Chairs with clear standards for hybrid and in person activities.
• Finalize list of courses with Hybrid or In Person course Modalities.
• Focus on the Fall Committee reviews aggregated list.
• Provide all Course Modality data to our campus Registrar to amend our course offerings in CUNYFirst.

Stage 1: Finalize safety plans for courses with in-person activities and ready instructional spaces.

• Chairs and Deans, or their appointees, submit preliminary information about each course, including a preliminary safety plan and needs assessment for personnel and other materials.  Application for In-Person/Hybrid Instruction
• Hunter has prepared an Instructional Safety Checklist to provide all Deans, Chairs, Faculty or other Responsible Parties with clear guidance.
• All approved on-site courses will be required to complete a safety plan demonstrating ability to comply with physical distancing, PPE, hygiene and cleaning, and other safety measures as appropriate.
• Instructional Safety Plans shall be reviewed by a subcommittee of the Focus on Fall Committee.
• Instructional Safety Plans shall be submitted to EHS for final approval.
• Rooms shall be configured with the support of Facilities as needed to relocate furniture and mark appropriate physical distancing locations and provide proper PPE and cleaning materials.

Stage 2: Begin Limited In-Person Fall Instruction up to 25% Campus Capacity

• 97% Online Instruction
• Limited In-Person and Hybrid Instruction (Lab, Clinical, Internship, Art, Physical Therapy, Performing Arts) in Approved Spaces with Approved Safety Plan
• Faculty Resource Center available by appointment
• Optional In-Person Instructional Meetings under Silberman or West Building Tents

Stage 3: Increase In-Person Instruction up to 50% Campus Capacity, TBD

• 90-95% Online Instruction
• Limited In-Person and Hybrid Instruction (Lab, Clinical, Internship, Art, Physical Therapy, Performing Arts) in Approved Spaces with Approved Safety Plan
• Faculty Resource Center available by appointment
• Limited In-Person Exams in groups (under 50 people) with approved Safety Plan
• Optional In-Person Instructional Meetings (capstone experiences, student presentations, laboratory experiments), Experienial Learning, and Recognition Ceremonies (under 50 people) in approved spaces with approved Safety Plan

Stage 4: Return to Regularly Scheduled In-Person Instruction up to 100% Capacity

Many Hunter students participate in internships and external placements, either as requirements of their academic program or as optional experiences.  In these cases, Hunter intends to follow the internship guidance from Update #18 CUNY COVID-19 Guidance on Academic Continuity.  Each department will be expected to inform students of these guidelines and obtain agreements for each student that participates in an internship.  All agreements should be forwarded to their respective dean’s office.

To facilitate the creation of high-quality online content, during Stage 1, Hunter will open the Center for Online Learning in C105HN for recording video lectures.  The model classroom and recording booths will be open to faculty after a consultation with an educational technologist and then by appointment.  Interested faculty should contact the Center for Online Learning at edtech@hunter.cuny.edu for an initial consultation.

The Faculty Resource Center is located on the Ground Floor of the North Building and can be reserved or made available on drop-in basis.

Five sound-proof rooms are available where faculty may conduct research, instructional programming and record or conduct classes. Space may be reserved for 3-hour blocks between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm weekdays, 10:00 am and 2:00 pm Saturday and Sunday and by appointment outside these hours. It is available for drop-in use as available but reservations will be given priority and are recommended.

Please submit the request at Faculty Resource Reservation; you will receive an email confirming the time that has been reserved.

A limited number of faculty are interested in providing optional meetings with small groups of their students.  These meetings will have a clear educational purpose, they will enhance the academic experience, and they will be occasional.  The optional nature of thee meetings will be clearly emphasized to all participants. All participants will follow the safety and physical distancing guidelines presented elsewhere in the document. Faculty can submit proposals seven days prior to scheduled meeting: Application for Optional Instructional or Experiential Learning Meetings

• Avoiding Phishing Scams
• Center for Online Learning (TTLG)
• Distance Learning Tools
• Faculty Resource Center Reservation
• Guidance for Faculty
• Online Teaching Workshop Schedule
• Technology Resource Center
• Zoom Meetings Best Practices
• Zoom Webinars Best Practices