7.16.20: Fall 2020 Remote Teaching Process for Faculty and Instructional Staff

A message to faculty and instructional staff from Provost Urban.

Dear Faculty and Instructional Staff,

As we plan for the upcoming fall semester, I want to reiterate that we will not require any instructor to teach in person, and that decisions about alternative approaches and duties will be made at the department or college level. These decisions must be rooted in the overall educational goals and needs of the particular department or college, bearing in mind our shared commitment to providing an exceptional academic experience for our students through all modes of delivery.

If you plan to teach in person and would like to identify changes in the classroom configuration for increased safety, contact facilities (inreopen@lehigh.edu) to discuss possible classroom changes. If you would like access to enhanced PPE for teaching, visit this site to request PPE.

If you are currently scheduled to teach in person and would prefer to teach remotely this semester, the process is as follows:

  • Work within your academic unit and with your chair to make the appropriate arrangements to formalize your instructional mode for the fall semester.
  • If you are unable to come to a satisfactory agreement with your academic unit and chair, please engage an associate dean within your college for problem-solving assistance.
  • If a solution cannot be found at the college level, faculty should consult the deputy provost for faculty affairs, Jackie Krasas (jkr205@lehigh.edu). Graduate student teaching assistants should consult the deputy provost for graduate education, Beth Dolan (bdk3@lehigh.edu).

If at some point during the semester your mode of teaching should change significantly, you must notify the department chair.

I encourage all faculty members to engage with the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) for guidance with and support for remote instruction, including workshops.

Thank you for your continued efforts to meet the needs of our students and provide the high-quality education that is the core of the Lehigh experience.

Nathan N. Urban
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs