USF Sarasota-Manatee plans for switch to online learning because of COVID-19

The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee will switch to online classes for more than a month, as part of a statewide directive to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Florida’s Board of Governors issued the directive on Tuesday afternoon. The governing board oversees 12 schools in the State University System, including USF, and it called for “remote learning” throughout the spring semester.

The directive was inspired by new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which discouraged gatherings of 10 people or more, the board said. The governing board also encouraged universities to continue using remote instruction beyond the current semester and into the “early summer terms.”

At USF Sarasota-Manatee, final exams were scheduled to end on May 7, followed by a graduation ceremony less than one week later. As part of the new directive, “traditional on-campus commencement ceremonies” are canceled in May, and universities are required to either reschedule or modify their events.

While its graduation plans were not immediately clear, the university already issued its remote learning plan to staff and students. USF likely anticipated the update, especially after last week’s announcement by the state governing board, which directed universities to prepare for the transition “as soon as possible.”

“USF has developed a myriad of tools, technologies, training and other resources to assist in this transition,” the university said on its website.

The update was released on March 11, and linked to “toolkits” developed by the university. One was for students’ continued education, and the other was for continued services, such as counseling, advising and tutoring.

Instructors will use Canvas, an online system that hosts coursework, group discussions and private messaging between students and professors. The employees were encouraged to have a physical backup of their online coursework and grade book, in case Canvas becomes unavailable.

USF instructors were also expected to have a computer and reliable internet access. In its guidance for remote learning, the university recommended that employees work from their offices if they lacked technology at home.

“Should you need to design and deliver instructional content from your office, please consult with your department chair,” the university said in its guidance. “When on campus, to safeguard your health and that of the campus community, please exercise appropriate distancing (at least 6 feet apart) and wipe down equipment after each use.”

Students will need the same technology to finish out their semester online, and the transition could be especially difficult for students with disabilities.

“Transitioning to online instruction may introduce unique questions about course accommodations and accessibility,” the guidance states. “Students with Disabilities Services is available to discuss accommodations for individual students.”

“For those students who lack access to technology that is necessary for remote learning, we are identifying computer labs that can be accessible for academic assignments,” it continues. “Students who do not have reliable internet access are asked to contact their professors, directly and immediately, to find alternate opportunities for learning and completion of assignments.”

When it comes to hands-on learning, such as teaching labs or field trips, USF encouraged the use of videos, virtual simulations and “other equitable learning opportunities.” According to the guidance, which was last updated on Monday, laboratory research would require supervisor approval, group limits and the use of social distancing.

Tuesday’s announcement was sure to alter university life, at least for the foreseeable future.

Tenure-track faculty may need additional time for research, some students will have to modify their internships, and others will defend their thesis under new conditions. USF outlined those conditions in the new guidance.

“The recommendation is for the candidate, the major professor, and the external chair to be present in one location (practicing appropriate social distancing) with other committee members and audience attending virtually,” the guidance said.

The Board of Governors’ announcement followed a news conference by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday morning. He was confident that Florida universities could handle the transition to remote learning, and that students would be safer off campus.

Florida had 192 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning, a number that includes four University of Florida students.

In an effort to halt further transmission of COVID-19, a respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus, DeSantis also announced a month-long closure of bars and nightclubs, along with new restrictions on restaurant capacity.

“We don’t want large crowds of people congregating right now,” the governor said. “We want to have enough isolation so the virus has more difficulty spreading throughout the community.”

This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 4:59 PM.