2020/21 Syllabus Resources

You can find information to consider including on your syllabus any term on the Syllabus Resources page. The sample language below is specific to 2020/21 academic year courses. 

COVID-19 Safety Expectations

We have a responsibility to care for one another and our larger community by following all current safety protocols outlined in the Augie Strong expectations. This includes properly wearing face coverings, practicing physical distancing, completing daily health screenings, following proper hand hygiene guidance, following directional signage, sitting in assigned seats, not moving classroom furniture, not consuming food during class, and properly sanitizing our individual work spaces in the classroom. If a student fails to comply with all Augie Strong expectations in this course even after being reminded, they will be asked to leave the classroom and information on the incident may be shared with the Dean of Students Office. You can also report concerns about others’ adherence to COVID protocols here. Full information on safety protocols and expectations can be found at www.augustana.edu/augustana-strong

Health & Wellness

Your health and well-being is important. Free counseling  and mental health services are available to you through the Augustana Student Counseling Service and you can schedule an appointment by calling 309-794-7357 or emailing CheriMizaur@augustana.edu. If you are concerned about a classmate’s well-being, you can raise the “I’m Concerned about a Friend” flag on Starfish. 

Augustana Convenient Care Clinic powered by Genesis is located on campus in Baldur House (behind the Gerber Center). Telehealth and in-person services are available. You can learn more, including how to make an appointment at www.augustana.edu/health-clinic. Augustana students can also access 24/7 medical and mental health support at www.Students.Care or through the TimelyMD app.

Example Attendance or Engagement Policy

*Faculty are encouraged to design their attendance policy with more flexibility in the 2020/21 academic year while clearly communicating expectations for active engagement in courses to students. 

Active engagement through regular attendance of and participation in this course (in-person or remotely) is critical to your learning. I will assess your engagement in this course through [contributions to class discussions, engagement in discussion fora, etc]. Physical attendance in this course will be tracked for surveillance and contact tracing efforts, but it will not be used as a part of your course grade.

Because of classroom size limitations and our responsibility to one another to practice physical distancing, you will be attending class in person X times per week on the day(s) assigned to you. You will find the in-person attendance schedule posted on Moodle. You should not physically come to the classroom on days that you are not assigned. On days you attend class, you should only sit in your assigned seat. You should NOT physically come to class or leave your living space when you are feeling ill. If you have potential COVID-19 symptoms or if you have been in contact with someone with symptoms, you should not physically come to class. You should call 309-794-7711 or raise the “I’m not feeling well” flag on Starfish.

Technology Requirements & Support

To engage in this course, you will need access to a device with a webcam and microphone and reliable internet. You also need to be able to use Moodle, Google Meets, [and specific platforms needed for this course]. You can download the Moodle app for your smartphone by going to https://download.moodle.org/mobile/
If you need help with technology, contact the ITS Help Desk at helpdesk@augustana.edu or 309-794-7293.

COVID-19 Prevention (language from Augie Strong)

COVID-19 is primarily transmitted via respiratory droplets, which are expelled, by breathing, speaking, coughing, sneezing, singing, etc. These droplets can transmit COVID-19 if they come into contact with the eyes, nose or mouth of another individual either directly (droplets enter the mucous membranes or respiratory tract before falling from the air) or indirectly (when droplets are transferred from a surface to the mucous membranes by hands or other contaminated objects). These droplets vary in size and will fall from the air at various distances after being expelled from the nose or mouth, based upon their weight and velocity.
Augustana College has created a multi-layered intervention approach to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on campus. This approach includes physical distancing, required use of face coverings, increased cleaning and disinfecting protocols, maximized ventilation in campus buildings, monitoring of symptoms and class absences, voluntary surveillance testing, increased emphasis on hand hygiene, campus-wide directional signage, and protocols for contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine. Even with the implementation of these plans, COVID-19 cases may still occur on campus.

The most common symptoms in individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes the disease known as COVID-19) include: fever (temperature above 100.4o F); new onset cough; shortness of breath; muscle or body aches; or new onset loss of taste and/or smell. Additional symptoms may include: chills; nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; fatigue; new onset headache; or sore throat. Some infected individuals may not have any symptoms at all, but they are still able to pass the virus to those around them through respiratory droplets, making physical distancing and the use of face coverings critical to the health of our campus community.

Any potential symptoms of COVID-19 should be reported via your daily entry in the CampusClear app. Based on your responses, the app will provide you with a “pass” to campus for the day or information on next steps if you may be ill. If you are feeling ill, you should avoid any contact with others and should not attend class or social gatherings and should stay out of communal spaces like the Gerber Center or PepsiCo Recreation Center. Contact your health care provider or the campus health clinic for further guidance. Notify your instructors of your absence and raise a flag in Starfish for a missed class. This will ensure you get the support and resources you need to feel well and healthy again as soon as possible, and protects your campus community, too.