March 30, 2020

Advising Your Students in the Era of COVID-19

We have all been shaken by what has happened across the globe these past few months, and across this country in the last few short weeks. For our community, this global crisis comes just as we were beginning to find our footing after our own local crisis this fall.

As we start Spring 2020: Virtual Edition, students, faculty, and staff are experiencing a wide range of material and emotional challenges: concern about their health and the health of family members, lost income, caring for others, lack of a private space to teach, work and learn, internet connectivity issues - to name just a few. Some students may still be in transit or may be quarantined and not allowed to return home immediately. A few may not be able to go home now and may be remaining on or near campus with very limited staffing and services. 

Students look to you, their teachers and advisers, for some semblance of “normal” teaching, learning, advising, and interpersonal connection during this time of social distancing. We know it’s hard to provide answers and stability when both seem elusive, so this INSIGHTS is dedicated to providing some guidance and resources. 

Also this take-home message: the number one thing students need from you as an adviser right now is human connection. Even if you cannot answer every question or promise that things outside your control will be fine, you can provide kindness, attention, flexibility, and the reassurance that Barnard is not just a place; it is a community of people who seek ways to continue to learn together and care for one another across time and space.

Resources for those who need support

Counseling and Mental Health

The Furman Counseling Center is offering virtual appointments. Students may call the office number (212-854-2092) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and request an appointment. Please remind them to leave a voicemail if no one answers!  

Furman colleagues recommend this article with concrete advice for coping during this uncertain time: FACE COVID: How to respond effectively to the Corona crisis. 

Teaching and Learning Remotely

All Barnard faculty should by now have received emails from the Center for Engaged Pedagogy with great tips/strategies to help students engage with classes remotely.  

For Faculty: Tips & Strategies for Instructional Continuity

For Students:  Tips & Strategies for Online Student Learning

Answers to Common Questions

Students may be emailing you as a trusted adult with questions about all kinds of things outside your areas of expertise: from housing to internet access, from Pass/Fail policy to Commencement. Note that the Semester Completion FAQs continue to be updated. Check or refer students there for answers to many common questions.  

Maintaining Connection and Community

In times like this when our small community cannot be physically together, it’s difficult to preserve the close contact that is such an integral part of the Barnard experience. As we adapt to the “new normal” of social distancing, it’s more important than ever that your advisees hear from you that you care about them and that they should let you know what they need so they may still feel connected and engaged. Some things you can do to create and maintain virtual connections:

• Email your advisees to check in. Don’t worry about finding the “right” words -- as Maya Angelou had been known to say, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

• Remind advisees that you are available for virtual meetings and let them know how best to schedule (more detailed guidance on how to schedule virtual meetings will be forthcoming)

• Host a Zoom virtual coffee break to bring your advisees together as a group.

• Share tips with your colleagues! Did you try something new that worked well? Email insights@barnard.edu and we will share it in the next edition.

This might not have been the semester any of us wanted or could ever have imagined, but our community will get through this together. Here’s an article from The Chronicle of Higher Education that sums up much of what you all may be feeling: The Coronavirus Has Pushed Courses Online. Professors Are Trying Hard to Keep Up.

Are Your Students Having Problems in Your Course?
It Is More Important Than Ever to Send an Early Academic Report (EAR) 

In this time of remote instruction, it’s even more important that the Class Deans know about students who may be struggling in your class, so that we can connect with them to offer resources and support. It’s also important for the Class Deans to know if you have not heard from your advisees despite multiple outreach attempts.

When, why & how to submit an EAR for an online class

If a student seems to be having difficulties with important aspects of your class, whether it’s attending (in real time or asynchronously), submitting assignments, discussion posts, reading responses or papers, or taking the exams at the scheduled time, please let the Class Deans know. The best way to do this is by submitting the Barnard-specific Early Academic Report (EAR). Although we know you have access to the Columbia University Academic Difficulty Report (ADR), we hope you will instead use Barnard's EAR for Barnard students which is customized for Barnard and gives you the opportunity to provide more insight into how and why a student may be struggling. The EAR can be found here and is also available on the myBarnard portal.

With online classes, it may be difficult to track whether students are attending the class during the live session or viewing the recording of the class afterwards. See this helpful resource from Columbia’s Center for Teaching and Learning for encouraging and assessing asynchronous participation.

What happens when you submit an EAR this semester?

The Dean of Studies Office will email students for whom an EAR is submitted, directing them to schedule a virtual meeting with their Class Dean. The email emphasizes that this outreach comes from a place of care and concern, and explains that instructors, advisers, and deans are all working together to support students in their efforts to engage with coursework during this online semester. 

Through the EAR process, we encourage students to take responsibility for their academic engagement and to seek out supportive resources. When students reach out to the deans as directed, the Class Deans use a mid-semester checklist to evaluate the student’s coursework, asking such questions as: Have you spoken with the instructor? Have you sought out tutoring (peer tutors have been asked to continue their tutoring sessions remotely, where possible)? Are there personal issues that are affecting your ability to do schoolwork? After that meeting, the Class Dean will copy you on a follow up message to the student, which briefly summarizes what was discussed, including next steps for the student.

Key Deadlines for Advisers

Thursday, April 2, 11:59 p.m. (Changed from March 26)

Last day to withdraw from a class with a W -- this may now be requested and approved by the Adviser via email. Students may not drop below 12 credits. 

Monday, April 6

Student Planning opens for students to begin planning their Fall 2020 class schedules. 

Begin virtual-meeting with your Advisees. For this semester only, you will NOT need to grant them “Permission to Register” in WebAdvisor. 

Friday, April 10, 11:59 p.m.

Last day to drop a Spring 2020 condensed course.

Monday, April 20 - Friday, April 24

Registration open for Fall Semester 2020

Helpful Advising Resources

Advising Guide 2019-2020

Instruction Manual for Advising and Registration Systems