The University has implemented a plan to accommodate the continuation of classes during an extreme emergency through the use of the Blackboard Learning System. The plan was approved by the President’s Cabinet before the start of the fall semester, and it was introduced to faculty members at Faculty Institute and students on the first day of classes through their course syllabus.
According to Associate Provost Larry Howell, Blackboard, the University’s current electronic course delivery system, would be used to continue learning if the University would be closed for an extended period of time.
“When the University is closed for three or four days,” Howell said. “Not one or two.”
Blackboard is not intended to replace attending classes on campus for an entire semester. Rather, the plan uses Blackboard to allow learning to continue via the Internet during an extended University closure and is designed to ensure that the University has enough class days to continue the semester as scheduled.
According to Howell, by continuing courses through Blackboard, the goal is for students not to fall behind in their coursework and to be ready to continue learning on campus when the University reopens.
Howell said the plan for continuing learning during an extreme emergency was in part a result of the impact Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had on the University academic calendar. In 2005, the University used the two days scheduled for Fall Break and the Study Day to make-up three of the class days missed.
“Once you experience a tragedy or event like that you need to prepare,” Howell said. “We (University Administration) were in the process of working with the SGA and the Faculty Senate with the use of Blackboard.”
In an extreme emergency, the University holds students responsible for evacuating textbooks and other course materials as well as contacting faculty regarding their intentions for completing the course.
The policy leaves room for faculty to work with students during extenuating circumstances.
According to the policy, “faculty and students should be open, flexible and show compassion in determining the precise course of action.” In situations in which a student does not have access to the Internet or a computer in order to complete coursework through Blackboard, the student should contact their instructor in order to make alternate arrangements.
The University is aware that classes, such as labs or clinical sequences for culinary, nursing or other programs, cannot be administered through Blackboard.
“There are certain things you can’t do,” Howell said.
In those situations, the University’s policy allows students to complete missed work during the immediate semester following the emergency.
According to the University’s policy on electronic learning, faculty are also required to use Blackboard “at a minimum, for posting of course syllabi and announcements, and student grades.”
“More and more the University is getting onto the Internet,” Howell said.
Faculty members not familiar with the use of Blackboard can receive training through the Instructional Technology Support department.
Training sessions have been designed for specific Blackboard tasks, such as using the grade book and setting up online assessments.
