Difficult to Convert Courses Communication (March 29, 2020)

Hello Faculty,

First, I want to thank you for your time and effort in attempting to move your courses online. I understand that for many of you this is an impossible feat because of accrediting bodies, technology needs, and/or hands on lab requirements.

At this time, we have received some guidance from the Chancellor’s Office. However, we are still waiting on additional updates. I understand that the uncertainty you and your students are facing with regard to your courses can be debilitating. And I want you to know that I am here to support you in any way I can.

At this time the Chancellor’s Office has given a little guidance on grading options for our students. Please note, these just came out Friday (March 27, 2020) and the District will be discussing how to implement them shortly. Please note that the following changes have been made to ensure students are not harmed.

1. Students who withdraw or are withdrawn from a course by an instructor will receive an EW. This will not change their GPA, will not affect their Academic Progress, and will not count as an attempt at the class.
   
   
2. Students will be allowed to repeat courses they took this term. The Chancellor is attempting to ensure that there are no negative repercussions for students. So even if the student completes the course, and may even pass, they can retake the course to earn a better grade or learn additional skills.
   
   
3. In Progress grades can be marked if the semester is extended for some programs. There has only been minimal guidance on the IP grade and term extensions. This will continue to be discussed on a district level.
   
   
4. Incompletes may be given on an individual basis if the instructor believes that the student circumstances constitute an “unforeseeable, emergency, and justifiable reason” The I MUST be made up within one year.
   
   
5. The Chancellor’s Office is continuing to push on the BRN and other accrediting bodies to be more flexible with the regulations for clinical experiences. Additionally, he is in talks with the CSUs and UCs to perhaps offer a solution to allowing students to take a course P/NP for transfer.
    

With this information I would like to make two recommendations

1. Encourage your students to stay in the course! As we get more guidance from the Chancellor’s Office we may have additional options. It is possible to have a “suspension in learning” for right now and have to modify the semester in a few weeks. Unfortunately, we are all (the Chancellor included) attempting to muddle through this mess and new information is coming out every day.
   
   
2. Continue to make progress moving any lecture portions you can online. If you can complete work online with students, please do! Keep students engaged. Even if there is nothing else you can do without access to labs or clinicals please keep in touch with your students. Make sure they are okay and encourage them to stay enrolled in their courses.
    

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me. I am sorry I am writing to you in this eleventh hour but, I wanted to share this critical information with you as soon as I received it.

Thank you 

April Bracamontes, Ed. D
(preferred pronouns: she\her\hers)
Faculty Senate President
Cerritos College
562-860-2451 x2849