Dear faculty,

We hope you’ve enjoyed the summer and are excited about the fall term. The newest (and largest yet) cohort of students finished orientation and have started their core courses, while most returning students will be on campus starting next week. Please read this newsletter carefully if you're teaching this fall to ensure you're prepared for the first day of class. If you aren't teaching this term, you still might benefit from reading this message. In addition to some important reminders and updates, you’ll find a special update from our Columbia CaseWorks team. And there’s a fun quiz where you can test your knowledge of the brain and learning sciences.

Feel free to contact samberg@gsb.columbia.edu if you have questions or concerns.

Warmly,

Your Samberg Team

Important Reminders

1. Start of Semester checklist - Review this to make sure you’re ready for the first day of class.


2. Guidelines for submitting an academic integrity or behavioral conduct concern - familiarize yourself with these so you are prepared if a concern arises.


3. Electronic Device Policy - MBA and EMBA students should use CBS-issued iPads during class and not other devices, except when a laptop is required by you (the instructor) for coursework.


4. Masks - are required for students in the classroom through September 30 per University guidelines.


5. Attendance - is in person except for special exceptions (such as approved accommodations for remote participation or when a student must quarantine due to Monkeypox infection).
   • If a student has Monkeypox they will likely have to quarantine for many weeks. To prevent disruption in instruction, students will be allowed to join classes remotely using Echo360 live streams or Zoom. See the University’s guidance about Monkeypox here.
   • If a student has COVID, they quarantine based on the isolation guidance they receive from their healthcare provider. The absence is considered excused. If they feel well enough, they may watch the live stream of the class session via Echo360
   • For MBA Core Classes, students with an excused absence should submit the Core Absence Form on the course Canvas home page. If students have questions, they should contact their Academic Advisor in OSA. For MBA Elective Classes, students should review the syllabus for the attendance policy and contact the instructor to discuss it. Read the MBA Attendance policy here.
   • To ask a question about an EMBA class, contact the EMBA office.


6. The Curriculum and Instruction Committee (CIC) reminds faculty of these guidelines regarding workload expectations:
   • For each hour of in-class instruction, courses should include at least 2 hours of outside-of-class supplemental activities to align with University, federal, New York State, and accrediting agencies policies and guidelines. The School's official policy is documented here.

Updates from MMG

Classes are fully in-person again and in general, Zoom is not necessary (except for occasions such as previously mentioned). Class sessions are recorded via Echo360. Please be aware of these key differences between Echo360 and Zoom:

• Echo360
  • Live stream (one way) - viewable via Echo360 tab within Canvas course
  • Records ONLY with in room back camera (facing the podium)
  • Can capture any input in our AV system: PC, Doc Cam, Laptop/HDMI connection, Air Media
  • Recordings directly scheduled from MMG (automatic start, no action needed)
  • Able to see that class in recording and what inputs are recording on the touch panel
• Zoom
  • Video Conferencing (two way)
  • Ability to record on both in room cameras (front or back) selected on the control panel
  • Can ONLY capture PC when you screen share within Zoom
  • Recording starts when zoom meeting starts and/or when hosts press record in Zoom

These items haven’t changed:

• Recordings pick up audio from the ceiling microphones and lavalier microphone (if you choose to use the lavalier).
• Students may watch recordings via Echo360 tab within Canvas.

Please be advised:

• Copyrighted material might be blocked from recordings (i.e., Netflix, Spotify, etc.).
• The Blank Screen option on classroom projection touch panels will indeed send a blank screen to the classroom display/s, but it will now also blank the display input for the Echo recording.
• Echo recording and Zoom video conferencing can be running at the same time
• Writing with the stylus on the wacom monitor will be more legible in the Echo recording than the in-classroom whiteboard being captured on camera.

If you have questions about the classroom technology, please contact mmgroup@gsb.columbia.edu.

The Columbia CaseWorks team works with faculty to develop cases and teaching materials for use in classrooms at the Business School, Columbia University, and academic institutions around the world. The materials they produce are closely tied to and based on the research and expertise of our faculty. CaseWorks partners faculty with writers – either from a pool of experienced freelancers or the Student Fellows Program – to take a case from ideation to publication.

Increasing diversity and representation - including URM, women, LGBTQI+, international, and first generation - in the library of cases continues to be a priority for the team and they are working with the Samberg Institute for Teaching Excellence and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative on this effort.

For the 2021-2022 academic year, Columbia CaseWorks published 36 new cases, updated 10 cases, and created 9 teaching notes. Published cases include:

• Aroma Consumer Products Co.: Managing Capacity for a Growing Company
• Beyond Meat (2019): “Eat What You Love”
• CommonBond and Student Loan Refinancing
• FlexIt
• Launching a Real Estate Fund
• SWVL: “Revolutionizing Mass Transit”
• Technology on Display: Can NFTs Redefine Art?
• The Cost to Achieve Net-Zero

Email CaseWorks if you are interested in writing a case or have any questions. You can learn more about Columbia CaseWorks here.

Just for Fun!

Contact Us

Email samberg@gsb.columbia.edu to request an in-person or virtual consultation to discuss your teaching needs or to suggest topics for a future newsletter or faculty development event.

Read past issues of Samberg’s Newsletter here.