March 2, 2020
Dear Deans, Presidents, Associate Deans, and Vice Presidents:
As you may be aware, the Centers for Disease Control has indicated that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is likely to become more prevalent in the United States and has the potential to impact daily life. It is prudent to prepare for potential disruptions, and I am writing with some initial information regarding instructional continuity.
First and foremost, the emergency preparedness team is working diligently to develop plans to keep our community safe in the event of an outbreak. Integrally related to those efforts are our plans to prepare the necessary resources designed to enable instructional continuity in the event that we need to move away from in-person course delivery. The University Center for Teaching and Learning will provide guidance and expertise to help you and your faculty transition to alternative means of instruction in the days and weeks ahead if needed. Please visit the instructional continuity web pages for additional information, and watch for regular updates. The Teaching Center staff members are also available to assist local, school- or campus-based instructional support teams.
While we have every intention of continuing with our courses as normal, we ask that you work with your faculty to help them consider how they might move their courses – including final exams – to a format other than in-person delivery. The preparedness checklist on the Teaching Center’s website can assist faculty in these considerations.
This is a very fluid situation, and Pitt’s response will depend upon many factors, many of which are currently unknown. We will certainly update you as we move forward, but if you or your faculty members have any questions at the moment, please let me know. In addition, Pitt’s Public Safety & Emergency Management site has up-to-date information about COVID-19. Links to that site and to additional resources are provided below.
Best,
Ann
Ann E. Cudd
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor
Professor of Philosophy
Resources
- Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management
- PittWire: How Pitt is Preparing for the Spread of Coronavirus
- Centers for Disease Control
- Office of the Provost
- Office of International Services
- Pitt Global/University Center for International Studies
- Pitt Trip Registration
- A message from the Dean of Students regarding coronavirus