Questions posed by faculty members during the Coffee and Conversation meeting on August 27 are included below. Answers are provided from the Provost unless otherwise noted.
The Counseling Center is fully operational with services being offered through telehealth. We do anticipate increased demand for services and have taken steps to absorb the increase. Increasing demand has been a trend for a number of years and we continue to adapt as needed to accommodate as many students as possible. Faculty should feel assured that if they direct students to the Counseling Center we will evaluate them in a timely fashion and connect them to appropriate resources. Students in crisis are always given top priority.
I should note that there are many resources available and every student in distress may not need an evaluation at the Counseling center. Sometimes what a student needs may be hard to know, so faculty should feel free to refer to us as they feel best. But also be aware of the many resources identified in the coping and support guide here: https://www.utk.edu/coronavirus/guides/coping-and-support. Sometimes students can start there and find what they need.
Dr. Paul McAnear, Director of Student Counseling Center
As we look at our budgets to make sure that we are using funds appropriately and efficiently, we must also look at our curricula, pedagogical practices, and staffing practices to address workload issues. Budgetary constraints across the institution (including the current hiring freeze) mean that we need creative approaches with everyone at the table for workload discussions.
We will instruct department heads and supervisors to consider the disproportionate burdens being carried by many individuals during this time of crisis. If you have a suggestion of how we can better assist individuals who are shouldering these burdens, please let us know at https://provost.utk.edu/how-can-we-help/.
Click here to view the responses related to the benefits and challenges for students related to remote learning.
We are looking into extending this program. More information coming soon.
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- If students are struggling with Canvas, please direct them to the video tutorial designed for students at https://oit.utk.edu/teachingtools/online/.
- If students are struggling with Zoom, please direct them to the video tutorial designed for students at https://oit.utk.edu/teachingtools/liveonline/.
- We will look into how we can build a set of expectations regarding digital literacy into orientation.
Our office established targets, but we made it clear that they were not quotas. We instructed deans to honor faculty requests for teaching modalities.
There is really only one thing that students need to do if they are feeling ill or have been a close contact or have tested positive: fill out the self-isolation form. Filling out the form sets in motion a series of actions, led by our contact tracers. Students will be instructed on what they need to do, including communicate with their instructors.
Hotspots have been issued to students who have requested one. The issue may lie with communication rather than availability.