[S-SARA] WCET COVID-19 Critical Updates Digest as of 4/15/2020

Mon Apr 20 09:43:29 CDT 2020

Courtesy of Lindsey Downs and Mollie McGill of WCET

Critical Updates

Accreditation

Institutional Accreditors continue to update their guidance:

  *   Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC): April 13, 2020<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsacscoc.org%2Fapp%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F04%2Fcovid19MEMO.4.13.2020.pdf&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=6oEVEYVT7chdsalOMJw%2FT5rwqqeDPqCSHJsNNBDU1xE%3D&reserved=0>- Response to Request for "Universal Pass" Grades.

More available here: COVID-19 Institutional (formerly regional) Accreditor Guidance Weblinks<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwcetsan.wiche.edu%2Fresources%2Fcovid-19-guidance-weblinks-regional-accreditors&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=alZNVJcv7bVJcgqU9uzeBpeaFiAL15XnOzHXHNUrD%2FY%3D&reserved=0> - list of accreditor webpages

Legislative

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has extended the Senate's recess until May 4th. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that Democratic legislators would like to see higher education and nonprofits have access to the $600 billion in emergency relief that the Federal Reserve will administer. Those organizations are currently not included in the Federal Reserve's dissemination plan.

Department of Education

The Department of Education has issued plans for the dissemination of both emergency aid for students and state discretionary funds allotted through the CARES Act.

  *   On April 9th, Secretary DeVos announced how much money<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ed.gov%2Fabout%2Foffices%2Flist%2Fope%2Fallocationsforsection18004a1ofcaresact.pdf&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=mMQpqGR0QrtGEqzOvhWYt%2BCHkGHXTsesNIl5FqD9Tm8%3D&reserved=0> institutions would be allocated for direct emergency student aid. The process for institutions to access this funding<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ed.gov%2Fabout%2Foffices%2Flist%2Fope%2Fcaresactgrantfundingcoverletterfinal.pdf&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=m9W8srnECrtPokCasnVLAHG42ky2IycIKZSqlUixFsA%3D&reserved=0> includes signing a Certificate of Funding and Agreement. Although institutions can determine how the aid will be distributed, the Department recommends that institutions consider using the maximum Pell grant as the upper limit of individual student aid.
  *   On April 14th, the Department of Education announced its intent<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ed.gov%2Fnews%2Fpress-releases%2Fsecretary-devos-announces-3-billion-emergency-education-block-grants-governors%3Futm_content%3D%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_name%3D%26utm_source%3Dgovdelivery%26utm_term%3D&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=3EmizzSJV3lLdvxuQshYGtHXz3BnkeJo0wLNN5yR8v4%3D&reserved=0> to quickly make available nearly $3 billion to governors for spending on K-12 and higher education. Under the terms outlined in the CARES Act, governors have discretion on how these funds will be allocated and spent.

Professional Licensing

National Associations for State Licensing Boards continue to update their guidance:

  *   Athletic Trainers - National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) - COVID-19 Update for AT Educational Programs<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nata.org%2Fpractice-patient-care%2Fhealth-issues%2Fcovid-19-coronavirus&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=g%2FWhlJG%2FaFD2rH59ga4umesCfOdCCSuNZ5dNRiUfLKQ%3D&reserved=0>
  *   Law - National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) - July 2020 Bar Exam:  Jurisdiction Information<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbex.org%2Fncbe-covid-19-updates%2Fjuly-2020-bar-exam-jurisdiction-information%2F&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=pZqfQu27vtuclQrhJStW6RIxmrVaTxoeadO04hlXxCQ%3D&reserved=0>(per state guidance - 4/13/20)
  *   Nursing - National Council State Board of Nursing (NCSBN) – Changes in Education Requirements in States for Nursing Programs During COVID-19<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncsbn.org%2FEducation-Requirement-Changes_COVID-19.pdf&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=7Ha5vXqszFxQZxbbzaryDB4t7wYTgWeiFDB6R5aBNTQ%3D&reserved=0>(4/13/20); State Response to Covid-19<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncsbn.org%2FState_COVID-19_Response.pdf&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=FOeMpyVqaCTjEJUNEewdaZGNvCK3rE2zicwhwK6iK2s%3D&reserved=0> generally for licensed nurses (4/13/20)
  *   Physician Assistants -  American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) - Summary of States Offering Temporary Licenses Prior to Certification <https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aapa.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F03%2FTemporary-License-Prior-to-Certification-Summary-3-26_20_FINAL.pdf&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=Z8teadrYFOBVqy8JCcyBGVxYpkzafOPSfq1OAMB99OE%3D&reserved=0> (3-26-20); Suspended/Waived Practice Requirements<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aapa.org%2Fnews-central%2Fcovid-19-resource-center%2Fcovid-19-state-emergency-response%2F&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=2pGtTVMukXyvTyXukddtsneOld%2B%2FXjXPid3CIGGgRYc%3D&reserved=0> (4-13-20)

More available here:  COVID-19 Licensure Bd Guidance - National Associations for State Licensure Boards<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwcetsan.wiche.edu%2Fresources%2Fcovid-19-licensure-bd-guidance-national-associations-state-licensure-boards&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=2XsxftCD0AkePY31a1BA8AEOhHErqhzdpX6Tq8sULTg%3D&reserved=0> - list of weblinks to guidance

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Assessment during the COVID-19 Crisis

With adversity brings opportunity. Many of us are discovering some silver linings during our present stressful condition. Those opportunities may include more game time with family, finding new hiking trails, experimenting in the kitchen. One silver lining for faculty can be a refreshed focus on how they assess student learning. Even before the rush to move to temporary alternative learning, faculty have been reevaluating authentic assessments as alternatives, or supplements, long-standing assessment practices using high stakes exams.

There may be several factors affecting a resurgence of assessment strategies, such more information on brain science and the cognition of learning, concerns with some proctoring technologies including accessibility and student data privacy. Today, it is critical to put students in the center of your lens about assessment.

Benjamin Bloom's taxonomy has been used in course design and assessment for many years. The Bloom taxonomy of the cognitive process includes remember, understand, apply, evaluate, and finally create. Consider where your students are on this cognition continuum and design assessments that will motivate students in their courses. How can you create authentic assessments where the student can apply her/his learning to a real-life scenario? What other than the mid-term and final semester exams are possible? Yes, it takes a huge commitment of time but being creative both with strategies as well as available digital resources may set the stage for greater student success.

Here are some resources and articles relate to assessment, grading, proctoring, and academic integrity:

  *   EDUCAUSE COVID-19 QuickPoll Results: Grading and Proctoring, Susan Grajek. This article reports on a recent Quick Poll by EDUCAUSE about institutional practices on grading, proctoring, and promising practices for assessment. er.educause.edu/blogs/2020/4/...<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fer.educause.edu%2Fblogs%2F2020%2F4%2Feducause-covid-19-quickpoll-results-grading-and-proctoring&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=tOWuiP6HG4G7Xu%2BuiBc8PFKk7hxfulyJVglWlc9tkoc%3D&reserved=0>.
  *   OU Digital Teaching. Thoughts about teaching online from an online instructor at the University of Oklahoma. #PassFailNation: Alternate Grading. Laura Gibbs. oudigitools.blogspot.com/2020/03/...<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foudigitools.blogspot.com%2F2020%2F03%2Ffeedback-alternate-grading-in-crisis.html&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=jtlwY%2FpULT339o817%2Bx%2FrU7Sd13NaiEGi7pP6TjkNko%3D&reserved=0>.
  *   The Ohio State University. Keep Teaching. keepteaching.osu.edu/assessments<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkeepteaching.osu.edu%2Fassessments&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=0gFCX4M81IZZTHDVtUl4nSurmLkH9s4BnhiDbjNH9%2Fg%3D&reserved=0>.
  *   University of Central Florida. Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, Assignment Design and Assessment. fctl.ucf.edu/teaching-resources/course-design/...<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffctl.ucf.edu%2Fteaching-resources%2Fcourse-design%2Fassignment-design%2F&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=WqVzjtiBXXkidFzEm0fiS1b5YN3McdhMoz%2BXrtBcbuQ%3D&reserved=0>.
  *   Stanford University's Teaching Commons teachingcommons.stanford.edu/resources/teaching/...<https://nam05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fteachingcommons.stanford.edu%2Fresources%2Fteaching%2Fevaluating-students%2Fassessing-student-learning&data=01%7C01%7Celisa.jaden%40sreb.org%7C98e4dc17807746737c0308d7e1601998%7Ceb20950b168c497a98452b099844f3ef%7C0&sdata=077UPhKmKmlnVUIAmAcfJ5S%2Fbf9aA6%2BoOnFTd5KDmX0%3D&reserved=0>.

SARA
Southern Regional Education Board
(404) 879-5517
SARA at sreb.org<mailto:SARA at sreb.org>

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