Dear UConn Community,

As Afghan refugees continue to arrive in the United States, including the 300 who will soon be welcomed in Connecticut, many of us may wonder what we can each do to help. At the University of Connecticut, we have a number of partnerships, programs, and organizations that support those who have been forced to leave their homes from around the world, with Afghanistan just the most recent example. The Human Rights Institute, Office of Global Affairs, School of Law’s Asylum and Human Rights Clinic, School of Social Work, and UConn Health, for example, each provide unique, collaborative opportunities to support refugees and asylum-seekers through experiential learning, internships and practica, or clinics.

One of the most immediate ways to help Afghan refugees is to partner with refugee support organizations. This can include both volunteering with and providing donations to organizations that assist refugees. UConn is home to the Huskies for Refugees student group, which is actively identifying opportunities to help Afghan refugees. One of the leading resettlement organizations in Connecticut is Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, also known as IRIS. They offer a variety of ways to welcome refugees through community sponsorship groups and volunteering or interning at their main office in New Haven or satellite office in Hartford (to open in October). In Storrs-Mansfield, the IRIS community co-sponsor group is Quiet Corner Refugee Resettlement (QCRR). To inquire about volunteering, email qcrr.411@gmail.com, providing a brief description of your interests, skills or experience and general availability.

Another key action is to learn. UConn is one of few institutions with a human rights major. Many of our faculty across a broad array of disciplines bring a human rights focus to their scholarship and their classes. Students can take a variety of courses that will deepen their understanding of the complexity of events and circumstances that force refugees to leave their homes. We also organize public programming to provide a range of perspectives on refugee matters, including two key upcoming events. On September 23 Global Affairs will host “From Afghanistan to Connecticut: Afghan Perspectives on Forced Migration,” with details at https://s.uconn.edu/refugee-panel. On September 29, American Studies, Middle East Studies, and Asian and Asian American Studies will host “Afghanistan and the Course of U.S. Empire,” with details at https://s.uconn.edu/afghanistan-empire. The Benton Museum of Art is also currently hosting an exhibition, “Immigrant Eyes,” featuring the stories of immigrants in the state through the photography of Joe Standart.

Additionally, UConn can leverage, and has, its institutional resources and networks to support refugees. Through the Scholars at Risk program, we regularly host scholars from other countries where their research and teaching put their safety at risk. UConn is also a member of the New University in Exile Consortium, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and the Open Society University Network. The Office of Global Affairs and its Human Rights Institute will be reaching out to academic and administrative units to explore opportunities to expand these types of efforts to broaden our capacity to support refugees, including the potential to host Afghan refugee students and scholars at UConn.

These events can also affect members of our community at a personal level. Our Office for Diversity and Inclusion and the cultural centers and the Dean of Students Office are tremendous resources for support. Another source of community and action can be found in faith groups, a listing of which can be found on the UConn Faith website. SHaW is also available for students to seek counseling and therapeutic activities, and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available through HR for counseling and referrals for employees.

One other way that we can contribute is by sharing our knowledge and experiences with each other and our communities. Many of our scholars present their research regularly through invited talks across the state, nationally, and globally. Students intern or volunteer in local community groups and agencies that work with refugees and asylum seekers, including conducting research or doing community needs assessments as part of that work. For example, through the Center for International Social Work Studies, student interns provide support for Hartford-based refugee initiatives. There are also numerous examples of community-engaged practices across UConn, including UConn Law’s Asylum & Human Rights Clinic, in which law students, working under faculty supervision, represent people who have fled from persecution and seek asylum in the United States. The Asylum and Human Rights Clinic collaborates closely with faculty and students at the School of Social Work and UConn Health, and has developed an innovative program in which interdisciplinary teams conduct week-long service trips to assist detained asylum seekers.

Our mission as an engaged, public research university includes sharing opportunities to help lift and support all, particularly those most vulnerable and in need. As a global university, we embrace this chance to lend our knowledge, our energy, and our resources to welcoming these newcomers in a spirit of solidarity. We encourage you to get involved and help us make an impact individually and collectively. We are always inspired by the ways Huskies rise to the occasion.

Sincerely,

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Daniel Weiner
Vice President for Global Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

As we approach the start of the fall semester, I am sharing details on several items related to the classroom and other academic activities. Some of you have been on our campuses regularly over the past year and a half, while many others are beginning to make your first return back to your offices or classrooms in many months. This message provides information on a variety of resources and guidance to prepare for the start of this new academic year. I also encourage you to visit the University’s COVID website, to find information on our plans in one location, at covid.uconn.edu. Additionally, the Provost’s Office maintains a set of academic-related FAQs on our website.

I understand that our community is experiencing a mix of emotions as the first day of classes draws near. Our plans for the fall are intended to allow as much of a return to in-person operations as possible while still prioritizing the health and safety of our community. This includes keeping close watch of new developments such as the spread of the Delta variant. This is a true community effort, as multiple offices and teams have led our planning and preparations to come together again on our campuses.

At the same time as many of you are preparing for a return to our campuses, you’re also continuing to manage the complications of caregiving, family, and community responsibilities amid COVID. Self-care and compassion for others in this challenging time will be crucial to our success as we all navigate our return to in-person operations over the coming months.

Sincerely,
Carl

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

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Fall 2021 Guidance and Resource Highlights

Classrooms and In-Person Teaching

• Masking: Masks are required in most indoor scenarios on campus, including the classroom, until further notice. The most up-to-date information on mask requirements across University settings can be found by visiting the UConn COVID website.
  • Clear face masks that cover the nose and mouth are available for instructors to use while teaching. Please use this link to make a request through CETL: https://cetl.uconn.edu/request-for-clear-masks-for-teaching/.
• Distancing: We shared earlier this summer that classrooms would return to full capacity with the removal of distancing requirements. The most up-to-date information on distinctions in distancing across University settings can be found by visiting the UConn COVID website. We will continue to monitor the status of COVID-19 and guidance from the state regarding distancing throughout the semester.
• Ventilation in classrooms: Facilities Operations has been performing a number of strategies to improve ventilation in spaces, particularly in classrooms. Guidance for re-opening over the last year has focused on increasing ventilation rates, enhancing filtration, and increasing the percentage of outdoor air that circulates where possible. Please review their full report by clicking here.
• Instructional modality: For Fall 2021, about 90% of classes are listed with an in-person modality. This includes lectures, discussions, labs, seminars, and hybrid courses. It does not include independent studies, field placements, practicums, etc. It also includes undergraduate and graduate courses, and all regional campuses.

  Aside from an ADA accommodation, the only instances in which classes may be taught in an online modality are based on sound pedagogy and the best interests of academic programming. With the semester set to begin shortly, additional changes based on pedagogical and academic programming reasons will be extremely limited and will require department head and dean approval.

• • Teaching assistants: Whether they serve as instructors of record or as leaders of a discussion or laboratory section, teaching assistants are expected to offer instruction in the modality for which a course was scheduled. Any change in teaching modality requires approval of the relevant department head and dean.
• Classroom technology: IT provides a wide array of guidance on classroom technology in its Knowledge Base. These can be viewed here: https://confluence.uconn.edu/ikb/teaching-and-learning. In particular, you may want to bookmark the Classroom Quick Start Guide, https://s.uconn.edu/startclass.

  Instructors can request training on classroom and instructional technology from IT staff. Please click this link to be directed to the request form (requires NetID login).

• Classroom and quarantine management: Throughout the last year, our office provided guidance in our FAQs on how to set expectations of behavior in your classrooms, managing accommodations for students in quarantine, and a host of other academic scenarios affected by COVID-19. Please click here to view our FAQS.

Other Academic Considerations

• Travel: Travel Services has shared a number of updates regarding work-related travel. Please see their website, travel.uconn.edu, for the latest information. In addition to guidance from Travel Services, Human Resources has provided guidance on returning to campus post-travel.

  Employee personal travel follows guidance issued by the State of Connecticut. Visit their website for the latest guidance and restrictions at portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Travel.

• Field trips: There are no formal restrictions on domestic travel out of state. However, all faculty or instructors planning field trips should work with their department head and dean to assess potential COVID-related risks associated with their field trip. Guidance may also change throughout the semester, so faculty or instructors planning such trips should ensure they are following updated travel guidelines if these change at the State or University level.
• Library Services: The Library is working to complete some projects that will both welcome our community back in a safe and welcoming manner, as well as increase the discoverability of resources. Changes have been made to platforms that access collections, including databases and the extension of electronic access to course reserves to the degree possible. Click here to learn more.
• Events and Meeting Scheduling: Units will be permitted to host outside guests and speakers, subject to University public health restrictions. Because conditions can change quickly, any invitation to outside speakers should include a strong indication that changes or cancellation may be required if conditions worsen again. Please consult the latest UConn Campus Visitor Guidance for more information on hosting guests and events by clicking here.

  When scheduling events and meetings, consider how the time and format may affect the accessibility for potential attendees. For instance, an in-person event at 4 p.m. meant to appeal to junior colleagues may conflict with pick-up times from school or day care, and may be better suited to a different time and a virtual format.

• Incident Reporting: The InForm website is a tool to help the UConn community navigate the reporting process and support available for a variety of incidents including bias, harassment, safety concerns, and other types of misconduct. InForm is available to anyone coming into contact with UConn, including students, faculty, staff, visitors, and community members who have a concern to report, including bystanders.
• Syllabi: CETL has created a portal for faculty and instructors to upload their syllabi for students to review before starting classes. We encourage all faculty and instructors to upload your syllabi here as soon as they are available. Please click here to get started.
• SET feedback: The Provost’s Office had for several years sent letters to faculty and instructors with feedback on high or low SET scores. After consultation with deans, the Faculty Standards Committee of the University Senate, and the AAUP, we have decided to no longer distribute these letters. SET scores will continue to be collected and shared; however, we heard growing concerns that these letters elevated the importance of SETs beyond their intended purpose. SET scores should be considered one of a set of measures to evaluate successful teaching. We appreciate the work being done in the classroom to support our academic mission and we will continue to find other ways to acknowledge our many examples of outstanding teaching and support continuous improvement in our educational mission.

Campus Operations

• COVID-19 testing: The University will offer testing for employees. The details are still being established and more information is forthcoming.
• Training: Environmental Health and Safety has updated its COVID-19 safety training for this academic year. Please visit this link to access the training on the EHS website.
• Tech check: ITS encourages faculty and staff to return early to test their on-site setups and notify ITS staff of any issues or equipment deficiencies. On and after Aug. 16, ITS will operate using a tiered approach that will allow their staff to efficiently serve as many people as possible with available resources.

• • For installation requests, please start with the self-help guide to set up equipment: techsupport.uconn.edu/device-setup.

• • If additional support is needed, faculty and staff are encouraged to request assistance remotely first, by submitting a support ticket through techsupport.uconn.edu. If issues remain unresolved at this point, ITS staff will schedule a time to assist you in-person.
• Future of Work and Future of Learning reports: These two committees have produced reports with an overview of their recommendations. You may view the Future of Work report at this link, and the Future of Learning report at this link.
• Cleaning and disinfection: Facilities Operations will follow guidance and best practices from the CDC. For more information, please click here to see a detailed update from Environmental Health and Safety.
• Signage: University Communications has updated signage to reflect UConn’s restrictions and guidance in place for Fall 2021 as it relates to COVID-19 protocols. Many of these signs will be placed in university buildings by Facilities Operations; however, these are also available for departmental and office use. Please click here to view and download this signage.