...
...
...
...
MEMORANDUM FROM YALE LAW SCHOOL
To: | Faculty |
From: | Ian Ayres, Deputy Dean |
Subject: | Our Educational Environment |
Date: | January 15, 2021 |
Cc: | Students, Faculty Administrative Assistants |
...
The continuing challenges of the pandemic are heightened because of the shortened Spring semester calendar that foregoes Spring break. Please consider including one or two respite class meetings as part of your teaching. The idea of a respite class is a class meeting with less or no outside preparation. A respite class, for example, could be used as a mid-semester review session, or an outside speaker could speak about their practice or an article or case on which they have worked. Keep in mind the emotional and logistical burden our students are experiencing at this time. Many are caretaking for family members and have other significant responsibilities. To reduce stress for our students, you might also consider being more flexible as to when writing and other assignments are due. And as mentioned below, posting syllabi and reading assignments early will allow students to get a head start on their work.
...
Because all professors are likely to have at least some remote students, you should announce at the beginning of the semester your policies regarding attendance of class, student videos, and student use of the Zoom chat function. My sense is that a majority of the faculty will be requiring synchronous attendance of Zoom classes, that students have their videos on and that student’s only use the chat function to alert the professor to technological problems with the Zoom – unless the professor explicitly exempts particular students from a particular policy. But student reps have reasonably asked that we let our classes know that students can briefly turn off their video or microphones if, for example, they need to use the restroom.
We also ask that you again find a faculty member who would be willing to step in to teach your course should you fall ill.
...