Safety and emergency preparedness information

Instructors should include information about safety and emergency procedures on the course syllabus. Describe how your course would be continued or completed if an emergency were to close the University for an extended period of time, including a description of the tools you would use to continue class instruction electronically if face-to-face classroom instruction were suspended (e.g., following campus evacuation for a natural disaster or if the campus were quarantined to control a pandemic).

Instructors should be able to use instructional tools in eLearning to communicate with students and maintain continuity of the course electronically.

The basic eLearning tools include:

• Grade book for tracking and posting student grades on assignments
• Drop boxes for submitting student assignments and providing feedback on assignments
• Procedures for posting and sharing documents and other course materials online
• Group mail to contact students in the course via email
• Announcements and News tools in the course for communicating with students in the course

Additional eLearning tools are available that more technologically-skilled faculty might use as part of an alternate plan to support instruction and maintain course continuity following an emergency.

The Academic Technology Center provides detailed instructions for the use of a variety of technology tools (ranging from Group Mail through Elluminate class meetings) on its Emergency Preparedness: Course Instruction Strategies resource page.

Select one day during the semester to conduct a test run in which you conduct class using these electronic tools. This exercise will develop and promote technical literacy skills in both faculty and students.

During hurricane season (June 1 through November 30) faculty should consider building in one or two days of “flexible time” in the course schedule to accommodate potential campus closures or class suspensions related to emergency conditions. When this unscheduled time is not used to accommodate an actual emergency, it will provide useful flexibility that enables an instructor to adjust the pace of the course and spend additional time on topics that students find challenging.

Describe your policy on how you will handle official adjustments (closings and delays) to the academic calendar, including any rescheduling of examinations or assignments due to inclement weather or other campus emergencies. If necessary, make arrangements to communicate with students directly if weather conditions cause an official cancellation of a normally scheduled class. Alert students to existing emergency plans related to inclement weather, including information about where students can obtain information about campus closures. Official closures and delays are announced on the UWF website and broadcast on WUWF-FM.

Weather Emergency Information

• WUWF-FM (88.1MHz) is the official information source for the university. Any pertinent information regarding closings, cancellations, and the re-opening of campus will be broadcast.
• In the event that hurricane preparation procedures are initiated, the UWF Home Web Page and MyUWF will both provide current information regarding hurricane preparation procedures, the status of classes, and the closing of the university.

Information about hurricane preparedness plans is available on the UWF web site.

Information about other emergency procedures is available on the UWF web site.

Academic Affairs H1N1 Contingency Planning Guidelines (PDF)

Academic Affairs has approved guidelines for contingency planning for H1N1 for departments that have not established a contingency plan. Departments are encouraged to develop any additional guidelines to meet their specific needs. Faculty members maintain discretion about the best way to implement the guidelines for their particular contexts.

 

Revised 04/15/13 lrg