Academic Updates: Looking ahead to a great Spring 2021 Semester!

Dear Skyhawk students,

We hope you are looking forward to our Spring 2021 Semester, which gets started at the end of next week!  We are eager to have you back in our classes, whether that be in-person or virtually--all of your Fort Lewis College faculty and staff can't wait to welcome you back!

I'm writing with the latest academic information for the new semester; please see the detailed outline of topics below and check our Gear Up FLC webpage for the most up-to-date information.  Of course, the context of the coronavirus makes the return to campus complex, so we want to alert you to some new initiatives and remind you of our safety protocols.  We are proud that we were able to use the fall semester to create safe in-person classrooms (we had zero classroom transmission of the virus) and to create new forms of virtual teaching (via new Zoom classes and our new Tech Bundles)--we look forward to continuing this adaptability and innovation this spring.

Please review the following academic information. This information will be posted online for you to easily reference; you may also review online other emails from campus leadership, including a welcome message from President Stritikus and an important health message from Associate Vice President Jeff Dupont.

Stay Skyhawk safe and Skyhawk strong! 

Best,
Cheryl

Cheryl Nixon, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor of English
Fort Lewis College

COVID Academic Calendar Information

Academic Calendar:

  • We have canceled spring break in order to create a compact spring semester and avoid on-and-off campus travel.  However, we know that you will need a break from classes and have created the following days that will have no classes but offer exciting ways to connect with your Skyhawk community.

    • Wed, Feb 24: Classes replaced: #FLCTogether Day

    • Tues, Mar 16: Classes replaced: Careers Fair and Academic Majors Fair, Midterms Preparation/Support, De-Stress Day

    • Wed, Apr 7:  Classes replaced:  Skyhawk Station's Get Prepped for Registration Day

    • Thurs, Apr 20:  Classes replaced: Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Symposium, Finals Preparation/Support, De-Stress Day

  • Please see our official Academic Calendar for additional semester dates.

COVID Classroom Safety Information

COVID Classroom Protocols:

  • Classroom Safety: maintain masks, distancing, cleaning:  All students must receive a negative COVID test before starting in-person instruction.  This semester, we will maintain all of the health protocols that allowed us to keep our classrooms safe in the fall--we had zero classroom transmission of the virus and want to repeat this in Spring 2021.  Note that these protocols enact our FLC pillars of mitigation (masks, distancing, cleanliness): 
    • Mask-wearing at all times
    • Physically-distanced desks/labs/studios
    • Cleaning of desk/lab/studio surfaces before each class starts 
  • FLC App: show green health pass:  Please be prepared to show a green health pass on your phone in order to enter class.
  • QR Codes: scan for contact tracing:  Please scan each classroom's QR code via the FLC App; this allows for contact tracing.

COVID Student Symptoms:

  • If you experience COVID Symptoms: 
    • If you experience COVID symptoms, you should "Protect the Nest" and not attend class.
    • You should contact the Health Center and use the FLC App to report symptoms; you can also contact your professor directly.
    • The Health Center, along with our Case Management Team, will help you get the testing and support you need.

COVID Information:

  • Homepage:  Our homepage makes accessing COVID information easy, providing direct links to Spring 2021 details, registration for COVID testing, and COVID updates.
  • Gear Up:  Please note that our Gear Up FLC page has information on returning to campus for Spring 2021.
  • COVID Information:  Please note the COVID Information page has details on COVID policies, testing, and pillars of mitigation.
  • FLC Insight:  Our weekly FLC Insight email goes out to students every Monday; it conveys the latest COVID information.

Classroom Format Information

Course Delivery Format:

  • Course Delivery:  Your course delivery format (online, live online, hybrid, hyflex, in-person) is listed in your WebOpus course description.  Your course syllabi will also make your course delivery format clear, explaining how you will connect to course meetings and materials. 
  • Course Disruption:  Your professors will make the handling of a course delivery disruption (such as a class cancellation) clear. 

Course Accommodations:

  • Student Illness: Your professors and course syllabi will provide information on how you will access course materials if you are unable to attend class due to COVID circumstances.  The FLC Health Center and Case Management Team can also help you with academic concerns.

First Day of Class Information

First Day Online: Thurs, Jan 28 and Fri, Jan 29:

  • First Day Online meeting: All classes will start with one online meeting on Thursday, Jan 28 and Friday, Jan 29.  This will allow FLC to receive and confirm test results before in-person classes start with face-to-face meetings on Monday, Feb 1. 
  • First Day Online format:  You should plan to attend your first course meetings on Thursday or Friday via Zoom, unless your course is scheduled to be fully online and using asynchronous Canvas instruction.  
    • Please go to your Canvas course site for each course for the needed Zoom link or course connection instructions.  
    • If you are having trouble access Canvas or locating the Zoom link, please email your professor (or contact your professor via Canvas if possible); professor emails are available in our Directory.

Academic Services Information

Campus Services Re-opening:

  • Library:  Open to in-person use staring Mon, Jan 18- Fri, Jan 29, 9:00-5:00pm.  Starting Jan 31, hours will return to those of last semester: Mon-Thurs: 8:00am-8:00pm; Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm; Sunday, 1:00pm-8:00pm.
  • Computer Labs/Classrooms:  Open to in-person use starting Monday, Jan 18, with a card swipe access provided in open buildings.  Students can thus use computer labs for their first online day of classes.
  • Skyhawk Station:  Open to in-person use starting Monday, Jan 18, with the bulk of business still completed virtually.  For course registration, detailed information on drop-in advising via Zoom, walk-in advising in person, and advising appointments can be found on the Registration & Adding Classes page.