VCUarts COVID-19 Information

Updates from the School of the Arts for Spring 2021

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Information for faculty and staff

New/revised resources for faculty

  • If you need additional support in online course design, ALT Lab is encouraging faculty to register for the Designing Online@VCU, a self-paced course through which you will receive feedback from instructional designers on course elements as you create them.
  • In an email sent in early May, VCU announced the year-long transition from Blackboard to Canvas as the university’s central learning management system (LMS). For up-to-date information visit the VCU Canvas webpage. It’s important to remember that if you are not ready to teach in Canvas, Blackboard is still available and viable for your fall 2020 courses.
  • The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) hosts several programs weekly to support faculty success. To stay informed so that you can easily take advantage of these opportunities, sign up for the CTLE Newsletter. This week’s edition is a great example of the number and types of opportunities available virtually.
  • The VCU Peer Support to Keep on Teaching Facebook group page remains a faculty resource to share ideas, pose questions, and find support among VCU faculty peers.
  • The Keep on Teaching webpage, which was central to our rapid transition to remote teaching and learning last spring, continues to be a regularly-updated resource.

Zoom Training Resources
All faculty and staff have been upgraded to Zoom’s Licensed level. 

The following webinars, videos and documents can help you get familiar with Zoom:

Further assistance is available from VCUarts Technology Support (804-828-7045) and the VCU IT Support Center (804-828-2227).

Adobe Creative Cloud
All VCUarts faculty, staff and adjunct instructors have free access to Adobe Creative Cloud, even on personal computers and devices. This also includes fonts and Adobe Cloud storage. To begin, submit the Adobe License Request and Adobe Cloud Storage Form. Adobe has also assembled Distance Learning Resources to help educators engage students through online learning. 

All VCU students now have access to a free two-month license for Adobe Creative Cloud is now available for free to all VCU students. Students can receive their licenses directly at: vcu.onthehub.com

One VCU: Responsible Together

The most recent university updates may be found at One VCU: Responsible Together, including details and information for faculty and staff.

VCU announced that all spring 2021 semester classes will begin virtually on Jan. 25. The university will evaluate the feasibility of moving forward with previously scheduled in-person classes and hybrid courses by mid-February, with the hope to resume them on or before March 8. However, VCUarts has confirmed that these changes to spring classes do not apply to studio-based and practicum courses in the School of the Arts. Course modalities, as they appear in the schedule of classes, will be applied beginning Jan. 25.

Parking and transportation 

For updates on parking and transportation, including refunds, visit VCU Parking and Transportation’s COVID-19 page.

Events and meetings

Updates to VCUarts events may be found on our events calendar.

Health and COVID-19

Our goal is for our community to stay well. It is important for everyone to follow these self-care habits to reduce the chance of infection:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
  • Avoid eating or drinking after others or sharing e-cigarettes.
  • Practice social distancing. Avoid large groups, crowded public places and maintain a distance of about 6 feet from others when possible.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

VCU Health is at the forefront of infectious disease treatment and is equipped, staffed and trained to treat patients with suspected or confirmed infection while keeping our visitors, team members and other patients safe. Visit VCU Health’s COVID-19 webpage for what to know and where to go, and read VCU’s statement on reporting COVID-19 cases, based on guidance from local and state health authorities.

Cleaning and disinfecting at VCU
Frequently asked questions about preventing the spread at VCU may be found on the VCU Facilities Management COVID-19 page.

VCU Recreation Sports online resources
VCU Recreational Sports has developed a menu of virtual programs to help our community stay fit, well and connected. These programs are free and available to anyone. Visit Recreational Sports’ Virtual Programming.

Vaccines

Need a vaccine? Learn how to get your shot at Vaccinate.Virginia.gov or call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA. 8am – 8pm. Language translation available, TTY users dial 7-1-1.

Travel

University-sponsored out-of-state travel, both domestic and international, is suspended until further notice. This includes faculty, staff and students. For their own personal health and safety, members of the VCU community are encouraged to limit personal travel.

VCUarts Qatar

Nearly 30 classes will be taught in-person at VCUarts Qatar during the spring semester, and it will include more on-campus activities, such as critiques, small group discussions, and some studio work. Visit the VCUarts Qatar website for the latest COVID-19 operating updates.

Staying informed

  • Guidelines for a productive return to VCU may be found at together.vcu.edu.
  • VCU COVID-19 website: This is the central source for university-wide information.
  • Provost’s COVID-19 webpage: This is the central source for academic, faculty and student information.
  • VCU email: It is imperative faculty, staff and students monitor their VCU email account regularly for updates.
  • Social media: university-wide announcements will be posted to VCU’s official social media accounts – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram Stories.

If you don’t find the answers you need at the locations above, please email COVID-19@vcu.edu.

Town hall recordings