It is amazing how much things can change. I am in awe of the amazing work Florida International University, University of Central Florida, and University of South Florida in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently thousands of staff and faculty are working around the clock to support over 175,000 students. Transitioning to 100 % remote instruction is challenging and doing so quickly is no easy task.
Despite the wide scale changes our commitment to student success and networked improvement drives us everyday.
Currently we are working on a number of ways to support our colleagues across the Sunshine State. Along with our partners we are designing and will deliver professional development, strategic support, and other timely resources. Here is a snapshot of the upcoming resources:
- Virtual Development Sessions: These sessions will be information rich and succinct. Presenters will share best practices as we field Q & A.
- Online Meet-Ups: The goal here is to bring higher ed professionals together to discuss ongoing work. Now, more than ever, we need to support each other, share just in time processes, and other services that gain traction on our virtual campus environments.
- Think pieces: We will provide curated resources in various formats to help make student success work easier. There is no limit on topics and we are open requests.
In summary, it is a difficult time for everyone. And no one knows how it is going to end. But one thing is for sure, higher education can step up, be a safe harbor, and excel as solution provider during these turbulent times.
We are here to help. In the meantime please connect with us on social media or vial email and expect follow up communications soon.
Michael Preston,
Executive Director of Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities