Update from 12/4/2020 (previous updates below)
Register returning students for winter ASAP
Please register returning students for winter classes as soon as you can. As a reminder, these enrollments are vital for our division to continue to offer classes for students and jobs for faculty. Registration opened on December 1, and so far we've only received rosters from two faculty.
You can register your students by provide Teresa and Amber with a copy of your IBC student roster, indicating the level each student will take in winter as well as their preference for AM or PM classes.
With declining budgets, enrollment challenges, and a winter conversion of the college's systems to CTC Link, getting these registrations done early is more important than ever.
Reminder: First winter packets due Monday, December 28
For ESL faculty teaching levels 1-3, the first deadline for submitting packets to be mailed to students is Monday, December 28. This deadline will allow us to hopefully put packets in the mail by December 30 with the expectation that students will likely receive them by Tuesday, January 5. As you recall, Tuesday, January 5 will be the first day of instruction, as we will hold our BTS division meeting on Monday, January 4. Submit your winter 2021 packets here.
Student resources: Food bank deliveries and the benefits hub
We have two great resources to share with students. You may have received some of these notices from the college already, but I want to highlight them or share them with anyone who may not have gotten them.
First, South's Food Pantry is Pantry is partnering with United Way, Door Dash, local food banks, and grocery stores, to deliver grocery bags directly to students and their families to reduce barriers to safe and healthy food. Students who have been affected by Covid-19 and cannot access a local food bank, can sign up online for delivery of perishable and non-perishable groceries, which will be delivered on a weekly basis, Monday through Friday, 9 am - 5pm. Once a request is submitted, United Way will be in touch about delivery day and window of time. For additional information, contact fooddelivery@uwkc.org or (253)237-2019.
Second, Max Paulin is an AmeriCorps VISTA working with the Benefits Hub. As a reminder, Benefits Hub is a one stop access point where students can access Rent Assistance, Emergency Funds, help with applications to public programs, Financial Coaching and other resources. Max is offering to visit classrooms to do a 3-5 minute presentation on this resource. Please consider inviting Max to your classroom by emailing him at max.paulin@seattlecolleges.edu.
Grading deadline is pushed back to December 28 (but no later!)
Due to the winter holiday campus closure, the grade submission deadline has been pushed back from December 22 to December 28. While this gives you more time, it makes it critical that no one miss the December 28 deadline.
The new deadline only gives registration/enrollment three days to complete their end-of-quarter processes before the start of winter, so there's no room for late submissions.
This is most likely my last update of 2020. Look for my first winter blog entry with an updated winter schedule in mid-December. Have a great break and see you in the New Year!
Update from 11/20/2020
Fall student course evaluations
Just a reminder to all faculty that you are contractually required to have your students complete course evaluations for every course, every quarter. I allowed an exception to this expectation last winter, due to the rapid move to remote learning in responses to COVID-19.
All faculty have the option to have evaluation forms emailed to your students through the district course evaluation tool (password required). It's also acceptable for faculty to design their own evaluations using tools available from Google or Microsoft. Finally, ESL 1-3 faculty can ask the office staff to mail paper course evaluations documents to your students, who also receive a return envelope addressed the college.
Full-time and priority-hire faculty must provide one quarter of course evaluations to me, as dean, once every academic year (fall, winter, or spring). If you're using the district course evaluation tool, you can do this by selecting the option that allows dean review. If you're using your own tool, you can send me the link or the results.
Paper course evaluations from spring and summer 2020
This past spring and summer, several faculty asked the office to mail paper course evals to students. Many of these have been mailed back to the college and are sitting in the office. At the time we received them, we were still waiting on guidance to see when face-to-face instruction would resume, so we could simply deliver the evals to faculty mail boxes.
Now that we know we will be remote through spring 2021, we will begin opening the student evals from spring and summer, scanning them, and sending them to faculty via email. This process will begin next week. Watch your email.
Governor's COVID-19 Guidance
The governor recently announced new restrictions in place through mid-December in response to the pandemic. These restrictions have been reviewed and they do not change any practices currently in place for our division. As we know, the vast majority of our instruction will be delivered remotely through spring 2021, and there has been no change to that plan.
For our I-BEST classes in welding, auto, and aviation--the three classes which currently have some in-person instruction--the college wants to reiterate our COVID Talking Points for Classroom Visits. The recent increase in COVID-19 cases in our state is a good reason to double-down on all of our health and safety efforts so we can continue to serve our students (and ourselves) in a safe manner.
Winter 2021 ESL Packets, part 1: first packet deadline is Monday, December 28
For ESL faculty teaching levels 1-3, the first deadline for submitting packets to be mailed to students is Monday, December 28. This deadline will allow us to hopefully put packets in the mail by December 30 with the expectation that students will likely receive them by Tuesday, January 5. As you recall, Tuesday, January 5 will be the first day of instruction, as we will hold our BTS division meeting on Monday, January 4.
Submit your winter 2021 packets here.
Winter 2021 ESL Packets, part 2: please limit the packet size
Due to budget cuts, we need to be extremely thoughtful about the packets we send. Our budget for paper, copying, and postage--like all budgets--remains extremely tight. As such, I'm asking faculty to please:
- Limit packets only to ESL 1-3. Higher level students should be able to access materials via the Web, email (PDFs), or though other strategies.
- Please review your packet content carefully and only send what you need. We may need to limit the number of pages of each packet if the budget remains tight (which we expect).
Thank you and enjoy the holiday!
Update from 11/17/2020
First draft of winter
Click here for the first draft of the winter schedule. It will open a new tab in your browser. As we did for fall, three of the sections are "TBD" and will be assigned based on enrollment (after December EIs). I'll keep everyone aware if there are any other changes.
ESL 1-3 return-mail student evaluations
As we did in summer, the office will offer to mail ESL 1-3 students their course evaluation form and a pre-stamped return envelope, addressed to the college. We will use the same form for all three levels, which is also the same form we used this summer. If you want the office to provide this for your ESL 1-3 students, please email Teresa.
Help students get started this winter
Please give the front desk your winter course details, such as Zoom links or preferred contact info, that we can pass along to confused students who call the front desk. You can provide the info by clicking on this link. This will open a PowerPoint presentation where you can edit a different page of the PowerPoint by providing:
As we talked about in the optional faculty meeting last week, we had a very difficult time this winter with the number of students who called to say that they had not heard from their teacher. We want to use this information to make things easier for everyone in 2021.
Winter quarter registration for returning students opens December 1
Just another reminder that faculty will be asked to register their returning students starting December 1. You can register your students by provide Teresa and Amber with a copy of your IBC student roster, indicating the level each student will take in winter as well as their preference for AM or PM classes.
New enrollment forms for new students
Thanks to Amber and the rest of the admin team, we now have forms new students can complete when they sign up for classes. These are only for new students (not returning students), so faculty will not need them. The forms, however, should be a big help in reducing errors with students' mailing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and other info. This should make life easier for faculty trying to reach new students. New online WABERS forms will be coming soon as well.
That's all for now! Stay dry.
Update from 11/6/2020
Winter 2020 preferences due next Thursday
Part-time teaching preferences for winter 2021 are due to Teresa Yamada next Thursday, November 12 by 6 pm. Please download the preference form, complete it, save it to your computer, and send it to Teresa.
- Click here for the first draft schedule for Winter 2021.
- Click here to download the winter 2021 part-time faculty preference form.
The draft of the winter schedule will open in a new tab in your browser. The preference form will download to your computer. Based on your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Explorer, etc.) you may need to give your computer permission to access these forms.
Student tuition waiver request will go out via Talking Points
Starting Monday, your students will receive a text via Talking Points asking them to request a tuition waiver. Please let your students know about this and encourage them to reply "yes."
As a reminder, we are waiving all students tuition during COVID-19 remote operations, and state rules mandate that we receive a request for this waiver from all students. The Talking Points text should be a pretty easy way to get this info. We may try other strategies in future quarters.
CIC is looking for a BTS representative
The Curriculum and Instruction Committee (CIC) is still seeking a BTS member. We've held this vacant seat for over a year now, and if we don't fill it soon we risk losing our voice at CIC.
CIC meets a few times a quarter, in both full committee meetings and subcommittee meetings, to review new and revised master course outlines and course proposals. If you are interested in serving, email me.
Optional division meeting next Tuesday at 2 pm
Just a reminder that we're holding an optional division meeting next Tuesday from 2 to 3 pm. We're looking for faculty's advice on solving some sticky problems, including:
- Best practices for contacting students at the start of the quarter/new division standards
- How you use Talking Points
- Packets
- ESL 1-3 mail-in student evaluations
Winter quarter registration for returning students opens December 1
A few current students have been asking the front desk about winter registration. Please tell your current students that registration for winter will begin on December 1, and that there's nothing they need to do right now. As always, faculty will be asked to register their returning students during class time this fall. For now, though, please assure your current students that they are in good hands.
Enjoy your weekend!
Update from 10/29/2020
Optional Division Meeting
We will hold an optional BTS division meeting on Tuesday, November 10 from 2 to 3 pm. Topics to discuss include:
- Best practices for contacting students at the start of the quarter/new division standards
- How you use Talking Points
- Packets
- ESL 1-3 mail-in student evaluations
We had a very high number of students calling the office this fall saying that they were not able to start classes because they hadn't heard from their instructor. (Even more than we had last spring and summer.) So we hope to have a good discussion about strategies we can use to help students connect faster and more easily. Other agenda items are welcome!
Look for the invitation in your Outlook calendar.
November 4 Article: Helping Students React to the Presidential Election
Rebecca Yedlin found a useful article at Teaching Tolerance that provides good advice on how you might prepare for student reactions to the Presidential election. See the link below.
Teaching the 2020 Election: What Will You Do on Wednesday?
I encourage you to make sure your classroom is a safe and welcoming place and to share other, similar resources as you find them.
BTS feedback to College Council
Larry Cushnie and Jane Harness are co-chairing the College Council this year. As the representative from BTS, Jane is reaching out to you all to see what she can bring back to the table (zoom meeting) when College Council meets on November 4. Please let her know of any challenges you are facing, successes we should take a moment to celebrate, or just a head's up of something we should all be aware of. Click here to email Jane.
COABE Google Applied Digital Skills Training, Monday, November 9 from 10 am to 1 pm
Literacy Source is hosting a COABE Google Applied Digital Skills training and you are invited. This three-hour boot camp will connect participants with Google's range of digital skills focused teaching resources including videos, exercises, and project-based lesson plans. These resources include tips for remote teaching, instructions for Google Classroom integration and tools for tracking student progress.
This is a free professional development opportunity brought to you by a special grant from COABE and Google to give you the tools to provide adult learners with the digital skills that they need to be successful in today's workforce and literacy environment.
To learn more about Applied Digital Skills, click here. To enroll, click here. If you have any questions, email Cat Howell from Literacy Source.
No more student Chromebooks for fall
There are several BTS and other students at South who have requested Chromebooks and who are still waiting for technology. Unfortunately, we just heard from IT that this equipment will arrive the last week of November--at the soonest.
Based on this, please let your students know that there will not be any more Chromebooks available for loan until winter quarter. This is a huge bummer, but it's real. IT ordered the equipment over the summer, and we never expected it would take this long.
That's all for today. Thank you!
Update from 10/19/2020
Reminder: COVID-19 Relief Funds for Immigrants (up to $3000 for needy students)
The application for COVID-19 Relief funds is open until November 5, 2020. We will be sending all students a link to this information via Talking Points. I encourage you to tell your students about this, help them apply and/or connect them with the agencies who can help them apply.
These funds are available to Seattle residents who have been both financially impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and purposely excluded by the federal government. Funds are available regardless of documentation status. Eligible adults are able to receive a one-time payment of $1000. Applicants with children are eligible to receive a one-time payment up to $3000.
Visit this link (https://welcoming.seattle.gov/comingsoon-seattlecovidfund) for more information.
Reminder: Paid BTS Assessment Committee position
South's Assessment Committee is looking for BTS faculty membership representation. A few details:
- Faculty are paid for their time and work on the Assessment Committee.
- They seek for the commitment of at least one year though two years is ideal.
- They meet the first and third Mondays 4-5:30 (for fall).
- Part-time faculty are not currently represented (and need to be!)
Interested in being a member and/or have questions? Please email faculty co-coordinators Laura.Kingston@seattlecolleges.edu and Glenda.Grahamwalton@seattlecolleges.edu with your name, department and why you are interested by Friday, October 16th. You can also email me for a more detailed description of the work of this committee.
Fall tuition waivers via Talking Points
We will be waiving the $25 fee for all students, as we have done since the start of COVID-19 remote learning. To comply with our audit expectations, all students need to request the $25 waiver. This fall, we will be sending a survey to all students--both ESL and GED/College Prep/High School 21+--asking them to request a waiver. The survey will be sent via Talking Points.
We will let faculty know when the survey is sent. At this point, all we're asking is that faculty tell students to please watch for it and respond that they would like to request a waiver. We'll follow up with individual faculty if there are specific students who do not respond.
Packet reminder
If you are mailing packets to students this quarter, please submit your packets here. Office staff (not the copy center) will follow up with you about the timing for when your packet will be mailed. Please give us plenty of lead time, as we need to request and receive permission to visit campus before we can make your copies.
New faculty expectations for contacting students (coming soon!)
This fall, the office had an overwhelming number of calls from students saying that their instructor had not contacted them. We've learned that some of this might have been of missed emails, emails that went to spam, bad email addresses, incorrect phone numbers, and other factors. Based on this, I want faculty input so I can develop new expectations for how faculty will contact their students in winter quarter. I will call a meeting in early November to discuss expectations that could include:
- Every student receiving their faculty member's seattlecolleges.edu email address, with the expectation that faculty will respond to emails sent to that address.
- A standard "what to expect" Web site that the front desk team can refer students to in cases of confusion.
- Every faculty expected to contact every student using at least 2 different methods (email, text, call) within the first two days of classes beginning.
- Avoiding emails that students might find non-standard/unfamiliar, such as contacting your students via CANVAS, where your email shows up as sent by "infrastructure."
- Providing the front desk (Amber) with your plan for your first week of classes, possibly including Zoom links, so the front desk can direct students to you.
- Any other ideas you might have!
Please keep an eye out for a meeting, most likely during the first week of November.
That's all for today. Thanks for everything you do!
Update from 10/8/2020
Contact your students!
The office is still receiving calls from students who haven't heard from their teachers. Please reach out. If you have called, try Talking Pts. If Talking Pts isn't working, try email. We want to get our students connected to you as quickly as we can.
Loaner technology update
The college is still waiting to receive additional laptops and hot spots to lend to students. Equipment was ordered over the summer and could arrive at any time. In the meantime, you can still reach out to Amber for help with student requests. You can also place an order for you students here.
COVID-19 Relief Funds for Immigrants
On Thursday, October 15, 2020, the City of Seattle will launch the $7.94 million Seattle COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund for Immigrants, its newest program to help vulnerable residents who have been both financially impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and purposely excluded by the federal government.
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The application will only be available as an online form, and 20 organizations will be available to help applicants over the phone and in-language.
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The online application will be available in seven languages other than English: Amharic, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), Somali, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, and Vietnamese.
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The relief fund is open to immigrants who:
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Live in OR attend school in OR work within the Seattle city boundaries, AND
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Meet income eligibility requirements, AND
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Were ineligible for federal CARES Act Economic Impact Payments (also known as a “coronavirus stimulus check”).
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The review process is NOT first-come, first-served. To support those with the most need, the program is prioritizing applicants based on a set of vulnerability criteria.
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Each eligible adult applicant filing for themselves is able to receive a one-time payment of $1,000.
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Applicants with children are eligible to receive a one-time payment of up to $3,000.
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The application open period will be from Thursday, October 15, 2020 to November 5, 2020 (three weeks).
Feel free to forward this email and/or this link (https://welcoming.seattle.gov/comingsoon-seattlecovidfund) to people in your community who work with undocumented and other vulnerable immigrants.
Assessment Committee seeks BTS members (paid position)
South's Assessment Committee is looking for BTS faculty membership representation. A few details:
- Faculty are paid for their time and work on the Assessment Committee.
- They seek for the commitment of at least one year though two years is ideal.
- They meet the first and third Mondays 4-5:30 (for fall).
- Part-time faculty are not currently represented (and need to be!)
Interested in being a member and/or have questions? Please email faculty co-coordinators Laura.Kingston@seattlecolleges.edu and Glenda.Grahamwalton@seattlecolleges.edu with your name, department and why you are interested by Friday, October 16th. You can also email me for a more detailed description of the work of this committee.
CANVAS Log-on video (thanks, Jill!)
Jill McDonough has recorded a simple video that you can share with students to help them learn how to access CANVAS. You can find it here:
...thank you! Have a great week!
Update from 9/29/2020
Fall schedule
The latest version of the fall schedule can be found here. I posted this update on September 18, 2020.
Fall division meeting
The fall division meeting will take place in Zoom on first day of instruction from 9 am to 11 am. Click here or at the link below to join. Agenda coming soon.
https://zoom.us/j/91597906600?pwd=c1pRZnhPRFNXaVJtMVJEY21Zd3Fldz09
First day of classes
BTS begins classes on Wednesday, September 30, 2020.
Assessment Day
Fall 2020 Assessment Day is Thursday, December 10, 2020.
Packets
Due to the closure of the campus copy center, packets will be prepared by BTS office staff. If you submit a packet by Tuesday, September 22, we will do our best to mail it by Friday, September 25, providing a good chance that students will have received packets by the first day of class (Wednesday, September 30). Please know:
- It will help immensely if you contact your students before Friday, September 25 to confirm their mailing address.
- Packets will be mailed to students on your roster as of Friday, September 25. Any students added after that date will not have received the packet.
- We will mail 3 extra packets to all faculty, giving you the option to mail the spare packets to any newly added students.
- You can submit your packets here.
Fall Syllabus/Distance Ed Student Attendance Hours
Just like with summer quarter, your syllabus must include language about how you will record attendance during remote operations. You can choose from the Teacher Verification Model or the Learner Mastery Model. Guidance from the SBCTC can be found here. The SBCTC also recently provided this updated Q&A document.
Getting in touch with students ASAP
Please call, email, text (via Talking Pts) or otherwise contact your students on the first day of the quarter. Otherwise, students begin calling the office asking about their class. We will advise students to wait until the end of the week (given all of the changes to the rosters, etc.) before we will help them connect.