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Provost Issues Message to Students on Academic Affairs

A message to students on managing the transition to remote education has been released by Minghua Zhang, Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Charles L. Robbins, Vice Provost Undergraduate Education, and Eric Wertheimer, Dean of the Graduate School andVice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education.

The message reads as follows:

You have likely heard that the Governor of New York has announced that all non-essential employees work remotely effective Sunday night (3/22/20). This decision has significant consequences for all of us, and we are working diligently to minimize any negative impacts on your education. Your health, safety, and well-being are at the forefront of our planning.

Coronavirus UpdateWe are planning for classes to resume online on Monday, March 30, 2020. The semester will end as scheduled on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Your professors will post revised syllabi on Blackboard no later than Friday, March 27, 2020. Syllabi will contain information regarding delivery of your courses and, if appropriate, revised grading rubrics. Finals, if applicable, will be delivered as online proctored exams and will take place during the originally scheduled days and times. Most courses will be delivered synchronously, with variations as to what that means in practice. At the very least, your instructors will be available at the originally scheduled course time and date to interact with students and hold office hours. Whenever possible, faculty will provide asynchronous course content to ensure that you have the materials you need.

Most undergraduate students will now have the opportunity to choose between a letter grade or pass/no credit for the majority of their courses. As is true for the current GPNC policy, some Schools and Colleges may opt out of this policy and will inform you of your options before you return to class on March 30. The deans of graduate and professional programs are considering how they will optimize their grading recommendations to meet the needs of their graduate students and programs. We will share an update with you as soon as we have made a decision on this important matter.

We recognize there may be challenges with accessing courses remotely and we want to hear from you. Please contact your instructors to discuss any concerns or advise of any resource needs. We also encourage you to check with your local internet provider, including Optimum and Spectrum, for free or reduced rates to Wifi access.

We know there are many questions that you need answered right now. The resources listed below can assist you with some of these issues:

To determine how to connect with a professional academic advisor, please review the information located at

www.stonybrook.edu/pba.

Information regarding disability accommodations can be found at https://www.stonybrook.edu/sasc/.

If you are experiencing challenges or concerns in your pursuit of success, contact the Student Support Team at

https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/studentaffairs/studentsupport/

For additional information visit the Division of Undergraduate Education at
https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/due/index.html.

For additional information visit the Graduate School at
https://grad.stonybrook.edu/

Have additional questions, you can find answers at the new Student Success Website

https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/due/student_success/

Students can visit the Keep Learning website for information on the tools you need for alternative and online learning at

https://sites.google.com/stonybrook.edu/keeplearning 

Need help? Report technical issues at https://it.stonybrook.edu/services/itsm or call 631-632-2358.

For specific questions regarding your major, please reach out to your major department.

For specific questions about your classes, please email your instructor directly.

Thank you for your hard work and patience as we adapt to these evolving challenges. While your academic success is critically important to us, your health and well-being remain our priority. We understand that all of these changes can feel unsettling, and we want you to know that we are here for you.

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