Academic Continuity FAQs

Academic Continuity refers to the continued delivery of course material at Marywood University in the event of all or parts of any instructional locations being unavailable and/or closed.

eLearning is a term to describe virtual or online instructional methods that can be deployed on a regular basis, as needed, or in the event of an Academic Continuity exercise.

Synchronous eLearning implies that all class participants will be online at the same time doing the same activity. You can think of it like physically meeting in the classroom and having a real-time discussion.

Asynchronous eLearning offers class participants a time frame within which to complete work. Activities and assignments will usually have a due date for completion, but not everyone will be completing it at the same time.

Yes, faculty are able to use academic continuity eLearning solutions in these instances as they see fit. The Provost’s Office will notify faculty in the event the situation has escalated to formally enacting academic continuity plans.

Faculty should communicate detailed instructions on how to access the eLearning platform Moodle by providing details in the course syllabus when possible. In any Academic Continuity situation it is important to communicate specific information to students:

• • What is the best way for students to communicate with you at this time?

  • Will you be using a synchronous (live) or asynchronous (self-paced) model?

  • How and where should students access information and assignments?

  • When will assignments be due?

Students involved in these activities should receive direction from their faculty and supervisors at clinicals or field placements. If students do not receive direction, they should contact them for instructions.

When possible, labs and other hands-on activities should be delivered in the eLearning environment, Moodle. Virtual assignments can include the following: a overview and review lab safety, a virtual tour of the teaching lab environment, an overview of projects and expectations for lab reports, and/or background reading for lab activities that will commence the following week.

There are several Moodle@MU YouTube Playlists to help guide faculty through various resources and functions of Moodle. There is also documentation available for a number of items within Moodle. Please visit the eLearning Resources Page for access to these items. If you have a question that cannot be addressed with the currently provided resources, please submit a ticket to The Help Desk.

Additionally, whenever possible, ETS will host training sessions during and throughout Academic Continuity events.

Please refer to this Academic Continuity Google Doc with links to Academic Continuity resources from other institutions.

Please contact your Dean.

If you do not have reliable internet at home, a number of providers have taken steps to provide access for free or at a discounted price for a limited time. There is an FCC agreement in place waiving late fees, preventing cutoffs due to non-payment, and open hot-spots.

• • Comcast COVID-19 response: free WiFi for 2 months to low income families plus all Xfinity hot-spots are free to the public during this time

  • Charter Free Internet offer for 2 months

  • AT&T COVID-19 response: offers open hot-spots, unlimited data to existing customers, and $10/month plans to low income families

  • Verizon COVID-19 response: open hot-spots.

  • Sprint COVID-19 response: Existing customers have unlimited data and, starting Tuesday, 3/17/2020, all handsets can enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge.

  • T-Mobile COVID-19 response: Existing customers have unlimited data and is expected to allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge.

Be aware that Marywood University is not in a partnership with any of these services and has not fully reviewed the terms and conditions of use for any of these services --- all those that choose to pursue this path should review the terms and conditions on their own prior to signing any contract or using any services. Also, note that contracts (of any kind) that are free for a limited time generally require cancellation prior to the end of the free service to prevent full charges in future months.

Please submit a ticket to The Help Desk. You will login in using the same credentials as the MarywoodYou portal and Moodle. If you need guidance on submitting a ticket, check out this Help Desk Overview video.