UTSA provides April 29 digest of remote-operations news and tips

APRIL 29, 2020 — UTSA is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak with a commitment to supporting the safety of the university community while enabling the academic progress of students. Here is your digest of university news and tips.

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SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

When we say “Roadrunner Strong,” we are always proud of how committed ’Runners are to supporting each other. Today millions of people across the world will wear denim with a purpose, and the PEACE Center at UTSA is hosting Denim Day on social media to virtually support survivors of—and educate the community about all forms of—sexual violence. Wear denim with a purpose to help raise awareness during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

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VIRTUAL EVENTS

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HOT THIS WEEK: UTSA’s expert faculty and staff are a brain trust of knowledge and are ready to share their insights and recommendations. Our Trainings, Webinars and Town Halls page is where we bring them together—for you to watch livestreams and view or rewatch recorded streams.

• Beating COVID-19: How Close Are We?: The next town hall in the Community Conversations series takes a look at efforts to end the coronavirus pandemic. Many of our nation’s top scientific minds are focused on developing solutions to combat COVID-19, including several UTSA faculty who are actively working to develop predictive models, drug therapies and vaccines. A Q&A session with panel experts will be included. Wednesday, April 29, noon.
  
  
• Research from Home with UTSA Libraries: Need help with papers and projects? Taking summer classes and wondering how to access the library? Even though the buildings are closed, the UTSA Libraries are here to help. Tune in to this town hall for tips on using online resources and mastering remote learning. Thursday, April 30, 2 p.m.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

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¡GRACIAS! THANK YOU! We want to express appreciation for all the students, staff, alumni, faculty, and community partners who dedicated time to community service this year. UTSA Volunteers and VOICES tracked a grand total of 965 volunteers this year with a total of 2,476 hours served. Community service develops an increased sense of social responsibility and a passion for giving back and helping others.

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ONLINE LEARNING & TELECOMMUTING

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FINAL EXAM PREP: For faculty wondering how to administer a final exam online, meet Proctorio. This academic integrity software, available in Blackboard, has state-of-the-art facial detection technology. It’s the only remote monitoring platform that ensures end-to-end learning integrity before, during and after the assessment. Learn more about Proctorio and find online final exam best practices. 

PREPARE FOR SUMMER ONLINE: The new default Blackboard shell includes enhanced features to make it easier to build and access online course content. It has been checked for both accessibility and mobile compatibility. Watch a video tutorial and review instructions to copy your course into Blackboard. 

And don’t miss Academic Innovation’s weekly webinars and Q&A sessions—or watch recordings of past sessions—and use this Online Course Design Checklist to guide you through the process. If you need assistance, email academicinnovation@utsa.edu or call 210-458-4520. 

HONE TELECOMMUTING SKILLS: The Staff Senate’s Remote Resources page includes video sessions and links to articles related to being part of a remote workforce. You can also follow the Staff Senate on YouTube and Facebook.

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