Dear Kroc School Students:
We understand that these are stressful, uneasy times for everyone. Even though this is the first time in our life-times that we face this kind of global health crisis, we want to assure you that we are making every effort to make this transition to online teaching as smooth as possible. This is an unprecedented situation, and it is important that we remain connected as a community. The changes ahead will require flexibility and adaptation from everyone. Please know that we are committed to support you.
Here is some information we want to share with you:
–While many staff and administrators will be working remotely for the time being, there will be in-person support on campus. You can locate personnel within either the KIPJ 121 Academic Programs Suite or the Dean’s Suite KIPJ 238. At this moment, the Academic Programs team is available over the phone, email, and zoom. Write to Emily Keehn, Marissa Newman or Louise Leu with any questions or concerns you have, and they will respond as quickly as possible.
–Faculty are going to be as flexible as possible as we transition to online teaching. Raise any questions or concerns you have with them, and copy Emily so she can follow up with support. Flexibility during crisis is not one-directional and has to be exercised by all.
–On March 12, President Harris sent a message announcing that as of March 23rd classes for all USD students will be fully online, giving faculty and students next week to adjust. This is particularly relevant for undergraduate students living in USD residences as they need time to go back home or find suitable housing. At the Kroc School, several Faculty are already prepared to go online now. They have begun to connect with you to discuss the new modality for their courses, and moving on to teach as expediently as possible. If for some reason, you are unable to connect to your online courses before March 23rd, please let your professor know.
–If you are residing in a USD residence hall and wish to stay on campus beyond March 22nd, remember to complete the application as soon as possible.
–If you wish to reside somewhere outside San Diego for the rest of the semester, this is your choice. However, please consider the implications of moving from one place to another and be aware of current and potential travel restrictions. If you choose to reside in a time zone that makes participating in live online lectures difficult, write to your instructor for an accommodation. Faculty will be as flexible as possible, e.g. by recording the lectures for you.
–Our aim is to minimize the financial impact caused by cancellations of academic or co-curricular trips due to COVID-19. If you are impacted, you should immediately seek reimbursements or credits to the fullest extent possible, document your efforts, and then write to Marissa. We will then determine next steps.
–Remember to refer to the University’s COVID-19 site for up to date information. And please check the Kroc Student Resources site regularly as we will post Kroc-school specific updates there, in addition to the weekly newsletter.
–We recognize that some of you might be experiencing hardship due to these unexpected developments. As a School, we are committed to supporting you through these difficult times. We encourage you to reach out if you have special needs.
–USD Student Wellness Center will remain open, offering a variety of support services.
As you are well aware, the situation is evolving rapidly, and there are many unknowns. In the weeks ahead, we will continue to send you emails with updates and answers to your questions to the best of our abilities. We appreciate you for being part of the Kroc School community. Let’s continue to support each other in navigating these uncharted waters together.
Sincerely,
Patricia Márquez