Continuity of Instruction

Academic Operations Plan

Be Prepared!

While it’s not always possible to predict an unexpected campus closing, it pays to be prepared for such circumstances. There are a number of steps that faculty can take to prepare themselves and students for possible interruptions.

The information and checklist below provides suggestions and resources available to the faculty in the event of a University closure. Be sure to complete the mandatory eLearn Basics and Accessibility Matters! training as soon as possible so that you can quickly get up to speed.

Checklist - Tools to Connect with Students & Continue Instruction

Email: University email is one of the many ways to share important & timely information.

eLearn is the University’s learning management system. It allows for sharing robust online resources, for on-ground, hybrid and online classes. Available tools include: Discussions, Assignments/Dropbox, Quizzes, eMail, and the Gradebook.

The TSU Virtual Classroom (MEETS-ZOOM Virtual Classroom) allows you to share recorded lectures, set virtual office hours, or hold live classes online. The TSU Virtual Classroom is available in each eLearn course shell making it easy accessible to every student in every course.

Utilize the Tennessee State University Libraries and Media Center resources to build course specific collections of digital books, videos, abstracts, and more.

Need Assistance?

Join the TSU Global Online Faculty Instructional Technology Support Team in Zoom for immediate assistance with eLearn, creating online quizzes or exams, the Respondus Lockdown Browser / Monitor, Turnitin GradeMark (a tool that allows an instructor to mark on a student’s paper right in the eLearn Dropbox) or Panopto. If you have a question about anything….pop in and see us!

https://zoom.us/j/3565004554
Monday – Friday: 9:00AM – 9:30PM

TSU Global Online Faculty Instructional Technology Support Team:

Faculty Support

Faculty Instructional Designer - Provides assistance with overall course delivery, pedagogy, teaching & learning:
Deborah Bellamy dbellamy@tnstate.edu

Instructional Technology Support Specialist - Provides assistance with eLearn Course Content, Assessments, Discussions, etc:
Tiffany Obiogbolu trhodes2@tnstate.edu

Technical Support

Student Support and Faculty ZOOM Technical Support – Provides students assistance with eLearn and provides faculty support with the MEETS-ZOOM Virtual Classroom:
Carl Hunter chunter@tnstate.edu

Faculty Academic Technical Support – Provide assistance with devices, Browsers, iPads, MacBook:
Aaron Jones ajones106@tnstate.edu

Faculty TSU Log-in Problems - User Name/Password/Reset: 615-963-7777

Faculty Updates and Latest News

It is our goal to keep the lines of communication open with you and to continue to provide assistance with your remote teaching experience. We have found it easier to communicate directly via email, so be sure to check your tnstate email for important announcements and the latest news. Below is the list of news items published recently…you can perform a key word search in your in-box to go directly to that item:

TSU Faculty Remote Teaching Pulse Check - Fall 2020 (Reminder) – October 12, 2020
Safeguards against Zoom Bombings and other Inappropriate Behavior – October 6, 2020
Important Notice: Changes to Zoom Recording Access Using Panopto – October 2, 2020
TSU Faculty Remote Teaching Pulse Check - Fall 2020 – September 30, 2020
TSU Faculty Brief – Fall 2020, Volume 1 – September 23, 2020
Are You Ready? Faculty Help Session Hours Extended This Weekend! – August 15, 2020
eLearn Fall 2020 Course Activation and Course Template – July 13, 2020
Summer 2020 Faculty Training Announcement (TSU Global Online Pandemic Passport Workshop Series) – June 3, 2020
Zoom Status Update - April 7, 2020
Zoom Status Alert – April 6, 2020
TSU Faculty Morning Report – April 1, 2020
TSU Faculty Morning Report – March 20, 2020
Launch of TSU Remote Teaching – March 16, 2020
Training Session Recording - TSU Best Practices for Remote – March 11, 2020
TSU Remote Teaching Readiness Assessment – March 8, 2020

Be Proactive!

During an emergency, each instructor should establish communication with students, and if the closure is going to be long, construct alternative ways to achieve learning objectives of the course as suggested in the Checklist. Be reminded that off-campus and graduate students may be facing additional recovery challenges in their work or home lives. It is often difficult during a crisis to predict its duration, so communication with the students and a standing source of current information that they can consult (eLearn postings as well as email, perhaps) will help.

Be Prudent!

Instructors should document their course adjustments so that they and others in their discipline / academic unit can assess the effectiveness of responses to the changes in the conduct of the course.

Visit Tennessee State University for campus alerts, important contact information, and references.