a little baffled [from Moriarty from Midland]

All classes have suddenly become online (or "distance learning" or "distance education").

Then I watched as one of my colleagues declared to the dean, "My students didn't sign up for this shit. I'm going to give all of them at least a 'C' even if they actually fail."  The dean gave no indication that he had any problem with this.

I know there is widespread discussion about making all classes pass/fail this semester.  That's one thing.  But simply refusing to fail any student this semester is a bridge too far.

--Moriarty from Midland

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

big hungry



What are the odds that students will return to your campus in the fall?  

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Coronavirus Epidemic at Claremont Colleges Leave Hundreds of Students Facing Homelessness [claremontindependent.com]

The flava:
The Pomona College administration released through school email channels on Thursday (March 12) a decision to shift academic endeavors to online mediums and mandate that students leave campus by 5:00 PM PST on the upcoming Wednesday (March 18). 

Students, who were given the opportunity to apply to remain safe on campus from their respective situations at home, were notified throughout the week of their respective colleges’ decisions. 

The article:
https://claremontindependent.com/claremont-pomona-college-coronavirus-eviction-homeless/

Why Experts Are Urging Social Distancing to Combat Coronavirus Outbreak [UCSF]

UC San Francisco epidemiologists Jeff Martin, MD, MPH, and George Rutherford, III, MD, explained why these public health measures are being taken and what each of us can do to slow the outbreak and help to save lives. . . .

Above all, keep your distance.


Social distancing now is one of the greatest calls for altruism. People aren’t asked to do this to protect themselves, it’s really to protect those who are most susceptible.

Many people think they have a fever without taking their temperature.  Get a thermometer. Take your temperature.

This is not just a bad flu.

https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/03/416906/why-experts-are-urging-social-distancing-combat-coronavirus-outbreak

Friday, March 6, 2020

"Is it summer yet?" asks Wombat of the Copier.

The day before spring break I received the following e-mail from an adjunct I supervise:

Hi, Wombat, 
     I don't know what to do with my Science101 class.  They are horrible and won't participate and they sit with their arms crossed staring at me.  What should I do?
--Adjunct XYZ



Today I received another, unrelated, e-mail from this same adjunct:

Hi, Wombat, 
     I just received this e-mail from the [administrator] about school closures related to COVID-19.  Will we be having class next week?
--Adjunct XYZ


Here is the opening sentence of the e-mail from the [administrator].  Literally from the beginning, nothing has been left out:

As you know, classes will resume without interruption Monday March 9....


I strongly suspect I know why her class is disengaged.
--Wombat of the Copier