Update on Remote Learning and Covid-19

THIS POST IS A REPUBLISHED VERSION OF AN EMAIL COMMUNICATION SENT BY AUP PRESIDENT CELESTE M. SCHENCK ON MARCH 31, 2020, ABOUT COVID-19 AND REMOTE LEARNING. IT IS PART OF OUR SAFETY & SECURITY BLOG THAT ROUNDS UP ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

On Friday, March 27, 2020, the French prime minister, Edouard Philippe, announced that the confinement period in France would be extended by two weeks, ending April 15. This might be extended again at a later stage. We understand that this is incredibly difficult to hear, as everyone was looking forward to things returning to normal, but the good news is that the confinement measures seem to be paying off. In the Paris area, though the number of people who have contracted Covid-19 is still rising, hospitals are coping with the increase, and the extension of the confinement is designed to make sure that this continues, so please continue to respect the confinement measures and stay at home.

The University is working tirelessly to provide you with the resources and tools that you need for your remote learning experience. To that end, I am attaching a few useful documents for easy access. First, the latest attestation de déplacement dérogatoire, which you need to fill out before taking any essential trips outside of your home. Second, a useful guide for the BlackBoard mobile application, prepared by AUP’s Academic Resource Center. In addition, this week the University launched the AUP Digital Campus (https://digitalcampus.aup.edu), which features a host of new initiatives as well as useful links to university services and resources to improve your remote learning experience. You might particularly enjoy the Good Morning, Global Explorers daily podcast, which provides you with updates from across the University.

Finally, a brief update on campus operations during confinement. As previously mentioned, all university buildings are closed to students. The Student Life and Learning Commons remains open to faculty who require access to remote teaching support. Due to the strict rules of confinement, only a small number of faculty, and some members of staff supporting them in their remote teaching efforts, are using the premises. Staff who are supporting your remote learning and your need for counseling, student development, career development, internships, tutoring, library support and advising are working from home and providing all services on a remote basis. The Ask and Find section on the AUP Digital Campus features a range of links and access points to these services.

If you are having any trouble, please reach out to your staff mentor through the mentoring pods. Contact your professor if you have concerns regarding your academic performance or remote learning experience. If you encounter difficulties reaching your professor, write to Sinead Foley at sfoleyaup.edu.

Stay safe and in good health!