Announcements for the week of October 12, 2020

Spotlight

New CTL Training Schedule: The Digital Learning Department is hosting additional Zoom Training Webinars from Sept. 28 - Oct. 16. The training webinars offer faculty opportunities which include learning pedagogical practices and techniques that enhance teaching and learning through the effective use of educational technology tools. Click here to view the schedule and register for classes.

Minimum Expectations for Synchronous Class Time: Based on best practices, we are asking that faculty provide a minimum of 30 minutes each week of synchronous time with students in your classes. This is the very minimum amount of synchronous time expected - each school/college/seminary can also require additional synchronous time. Your synchronous class time must be scheduled during your regularly scheduled class time. It will be important for you to also provide alternative assignments and expectations for students in different time zones who are not able to be present.

Outdoor Classrooms: There is still some availability in the three outdoor classrooms.  These spaces are fully equipped with technology. Students who are not able to attend in person will be able to zoom into the outdoor classroom. If you are interested in moving your class to one of these spaces, contact Edna Davoudi (for College of Arts and Sciences) at edavoudi@callutheran.edu or Gerhard Apfelthaler (for School of Management) at apfelthaler@callutheran.edu.

Covid-19 Reporting: If one of your students is sick or has been tested, please remind them to email COVID19reporting@callutheran.edu with this information, for the safety of the campus community. If you do not think the student will self-report, faculty can send an email to COVID19reporting@callutheran.edu with the student's information, then Health Services will contact the student to follow up.

Events

• Alumni's "Virtual Homecoming" series is presenting events each day throughout the month of October showcasing various aspects of Cal Lutheran. Many faculty are featured in live or recorded events. Click here for the full schedule. This week’s Virtual Homecoming “Faculty Friday” series presents:
• LIVE: Power and the People: What's at Stake in the 2020 Election?with Haco Hoang (Political Science), Fri., Oct. 16, 12:00pm.  Click here to register.
• Social Media and Politics with Jose Marichal (Political Science) and Aaron Heresco (Communication), Fri., Oct. 16. Click here to view.
• Top Retirement Strategies with Chia-Li Chien (School of Management), Fri., Oct. 16. Click here to view.
   
• Faculty Senate Meeting, Mon., Oct. 12, 4-6pm. To view the agenda, click here (Zoom link is in the agenda). To view the Oct. 5 minutes, click here.
• All faculty are invited to submit items of request or concern to the Senate via the Petition Response Chart on the Faculty Senate & Assembly Blackboard page. (Adjunct Faculty see the Adjunct Faculty Connect Blackboard page.) These forms are anonymous unless you self identify.
   
• Grant Writing Workshops: The Office of Sponsored Research and Projects is presenting a grant writing series for faculty and staff. The first workshop will be an overview of the grants process titled Securing Grants @ Cal Lutheran. This workshop will be held virtually on Tues., Oct. 13, from 11:15 am to 12:30 pm. Click here for more information and to register. For questions, email Roni Hooper at rhooper@callutheran.edu .
   
• CTL presents: Best Practices for Recording Lectures: Chunking, Captioning, Captivating Students, Tues., Oct. 13, 6pm.  Click here to register at least 24 hours prior to the session.

• Bach Organ Recital Series featuring University Organist Adan Alejandro Fernandez, Wed., Oct. 14, 12:30pm. The concert will be livestreamed at CalLutheran.edu/music.
   
• Virtual Homecoming presents "Meet Our New Faculty," Wed., Oct. 14. Click here for more information.
   
• University Chapel, Thurs., Oct. 15. Watch and interact at 11:25am every Thursday at our facebook watch party.  Jade Ortiz (Our Redeemer Lutheran Church) will be speaking. After worship, meet us on zoom at 11:45am for online "cookie and lemonade" conversation time!   https://clu.zoom.us/j/9544840925
   
• CTL Weekly Virtual Lunch Series, Thurs., Oct. 15, 12:15-1:00pm. In August 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was certified, affirming women's right to vote.  Join Vision 2020 - California Delegate, Dawn Dyer (PROS student), for a lively discussion about the history of women's rights in America, and the suffragists' seventy year fight to be full participants in our democracy.  We will discuss equity, equality and the importance of civic engagement.  Dawn will also share tips about voting safely in the age of Covid, and the importance for us all to Use Your Voice!  And Use Your Vote! Join Zoom Meeting:  https://clu.zoom.us/j/91970976750?pwd=ejdaN0tjQTVkTWVxNmt1YTdhLzNOQT09 Meeting ID: 919 7097 6750  Passcode: 364879
   
• WASC Fall Webinar Series: Each webinar features practical resources and the chance to talk to with colleagues in break-out sessions. Each begins with a concise 45-minute presentation followed by discussion groups and is wrapped up with a concluding plenary. They’re 90 minutes total - but if you’re pressed for time you can join just for the first 45 minutes. Click here for the full list of free webinars. This week's free webinar is:
• Right to the Point: Equity through a Sociologically Mindful Lens, Thurs., Oct. 15, 12:00 - 1:30pm.
   
• CTL presents: FERPA, Accessibility and Best Practices in the Remote Classroom, Fri., Oct. 16, 12pm, via Zoom.  Click here to register at least 24 hours in advance.
   
• Free COVID-19 Testing will be available on campus on Wed., Oct. 21, 12-5pm and Thurs. Oct. 22, 9am - 2pm, in the Administration parking lot near Campus Safety.  No appointment necessary.  Must bring ID.

Announcements

• Travel Policy Reminder: Cal Lutheran remains in a Travel Moratorium status as outlined on the KNOW website. Under this restrictive category, no university-sponsored travel is approved. Only under extraordinary circumstances can an exemption be provided with review by the appropriate President’s Cabinet member, pending your division. When the University transitions to a new travel classification the website will be updated. Questions about the Moratorium status can be addressed to COVIDquestions@callutheran.edu. General questions about the University’s Travel Policy can be submitted to global@callutheran.edu.
   
• Guest Authorization Process: Campus Compact & Health Check: As Cal Lutheran resumes some elements of on-site traditional operations, the Guest Authorization Process/Pre-Arrival Check-in is now available on the KNOW website. Campus offices reserve discretion to approve visitor(s) based on the parameters noted online, including health and safety guidelines. Individuals without campus-related business (e.g., Outside / Non-formal affinity groups seeking use of Cal Lutheran facilities, neighborhood members, etc.) are requested to refrain from use of the campus until guidelines change. The person hosting an approved guest is responsible for collecting a copy of the signed Campus Compact from the guest and reminding the guest that s/he must complete the Visitor Health Check Form the day of the planned visit. Any questions about the visitor’s policy or institution’s COVID-19 response can be addressed at coronavirus@callutheran.edu.
   
• Study Away Programs (Spring 2021): Both domestic and virtual away programs are moving forward for Spring 2021. However, the Office of Education Abroad has extended the delay on international away programs with in-person overseas expectations for Spring 2021. All students originally planning on studying overseas for S21 have been informed of the decision and offered scholarship resources toward a future away program, if they enroll full-time at Cal Lutheran for the Spring 2021 semester. The Office of Education Abroad is in process of establishing new scholarship options for the 2021-2022 academic year, while also expanding our portfolio and further diversifying our offerings. Please contact the OEA staff at studyabroad@callutheran.edu with any questions about study away programs.
   
• Faculty-Led Programs Update: The Spring Faculty Led Seminars (with international component in May 2021) are planned to move forward. The University is offering students the opportunity to study with our faculty in England, Japan, South Africa, and Ecuador as part of the May/Summer academic offerings. If you are interested in offering a faculty-led overseas experience in Spring/Summer 2022, then now is the time to start planning! Please notify the Center for Global Engagement at global@callutheran.edu to coordinate a meeting with Associate Provost for Global Engagement Dr. Christina Sanchez. The review/development/approval process can take 18 months, so  intent to prepare a faculty-led overseas program is due by Monday, November 2, 2020.
   
• Collaboration Opportunities: Hong Kong Baptist University: Cal Lutheran has a connection with Hong Kong Baptist University. HKBU offers academic programs/courses that align with Cal Lutheran’s and are provided in English. To maintain linkages during this period without travel, if a faculty member is interested in exploring an option to interact with colleagues at HKBU (e.g., inviting a HKBU faculty member to guest lecture virtually, investigating the possibility of teaching/conducting research collaboratively with a faculty member from HKBU, etc.), then please send a note to global@callutheran.edu.
   
• Faculty Retreat Survey - If you attended the 2020 Faculty Retreat (via Zoom), the Community Committee requests that you take a few minutes to complete this very brief survey: Faculty Retreat Survey 2020 They look forward to your feedback so that they can make next year’s Faculty Retreat even more responsive to your interests. Survey closes Fri., Oct. 16, at 5pm.
   
• Student networking opportunities – The Community Leaders Association will host the Mathews Leadership Forum virtually on Wed., Oct. 21, from 6-7:30 p.m. The CLA asks faculty to help promote student participation. Students will have the opportunity to network with local business and civic leaders from a variety of professions and hear a keynote address from an accomplished speaker who will speak about finding your path during turbulent times.  For information and to register, they are welcome to visit Mathews Leadership Forum.
   
• The Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) presents a virtual workshop: "Bias, Privilege, and Educational Freedom" featuring Diversity Consultant Nimisha Barton, Tues., Oct. 27, 12-1:15pm.  Click here for more information and free registration.
   
• ELCA Wittenberg 3-Seminar Webinar Series: The Freedom of a Christian, Oct. 28, 29 & 30, 10am. The Oct. 29 session features Moses Penumaka (PLTS) speaking on The Freedom of a Christian: Living in Christ and Loving our Neighbors. Click here for more information.  Click here to register.
   
• Academic Services has created a new Graduation Process page on the Registrar’s website. This has information about the degree conferrals, priority deadlines, and posting timelines. Additionally, there are details about the Degree Completion Agreement for seniors in the traditional undergraduate program. TUG Seniors received an email with this information on Sept. 21.
   
• Fall Final Exam Policy: All final exams for virtual classes must be given asynchronously (meaning that students will not take final exams at the same time) following the Final Exam Policy (click here) developed for spring and summer 2020. This applies to all programs. Faculty can use any time during final exam week as the deadline for materials due that week. The latest deadline an instructor may use for all coursework is midnight PST on the last day of final exams. Faculty are required to have one course-related activity take place during final exam week. This might be an assignment, an exam, a blog post, a project or other assessment.
  Points of clarification:
• There is not a Fall final exam “schedule,” as exams will be asynchronous. Due to time differences, distractions in the home, etc., faculty should give students a window of time to complete the final.
• If you are giving an asynchronous final exam, you do NOT need to meet as a class during finals week.
• If the final exam is a presentation, it should be asynchronous (recorded).
• If you plan to hold a synchronous class session during finals week (instead of a final exam), you only have to meet once, during your regularly scheduled class time. If this is your preference, let your students know early, as they are expecting classes to be asynchronous and virtual this week.
   
• Pearson Library contact-free pickup of resources. Pearson Library's print books and DVDs are available to the Cal Lutheran community through the Contact-Free Hold Pickup service. Please place a hold on the item you want in the library’s catalog, and an email will be sent to you to schedule your pickup time. All other services, such as Librarian Assistance and Course Reserves, are available virtually. Please check the Library Alerts & Resources Guide for the most up-to-date information.