As efforts to safeguard against the spread of COVID-19 ramp up across the nation, we’re all becoming familiar with the steps necessary to weather this storm. We’ve made a mad dash to Costco to secure a peculiarly large stash of toilet paper, picked up food curbside from our favorite restaurants, and found the perfect secluded-yet-cozy space to participate in remote classes.
As these preventative measures have been taking place, Dixie State’s dedicated faculty and staff have been making preparations of their own. Rather than hoarding masses of canned goods, many DSU employees gave up their Spring Breaks to transition lesson plans to remote delivery, familiarize themselves with the technology necessary to hold classes and meetings online, and prepare the campus community for the remainder of the semester.
For example, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Bruce Harris and a dozen employees from DSU’s Center for Teaching & Learning, Digital & Extended Learning, and Instructional Technology Services assembled a teaching guide that provides faculty with resources to optimize students’ remote learning experiences. Thanks to the team’s quick work, this 21-page guide was shared with faculty the very same day Governor Herbert announced that Utah System of Higher Education institutions would offer classes remotely. As a result of their diligent efforts, not a single day of classwork was lost. During Spring Break, the team provided faculty members with 46 hours of drop-in lab support and 15 hours of one-on-one virtual lab support in addition to helping more than 50 faculty members over the phone and through email.
Additionally, Dixie State’s HR team, led by Executive Director of Human Resources Travis Rosenberg, created a comprehensive guide of staff resources just as quickly. Additionally, the HR team compiled a list of optional training resources and have been answering questions around the clock. All across campus representatives from different offices have been working to keep the University operating, some from the comfort of their homes in their pajamas during the middle of the night, others from the seclusion of their offices on campus. Specifically, the Facilities Management team has been going above and beyond the call of duty to not only keep campus beautiful, but also spotlessly clean and disinfected.
DSU’s faculty and staff have been truly tremendous, taking a transition that could have been tumultuous and making it successful. Please, next time you see your favorite faculty and staff members, be sure to share your appreciation with them — just be sure to maintain six feet between you and them and limit your praise to no more than 10 employees at a time!