Updates for Learning Management System

May 26, 2021

Dear Colleagues,

I want to express my deepest gratitude for your extraordinary work and dedication the last academic year. As we have successfully concluded the spring semester, it is clear that your dedication and resilience have contributed to the success of our students. 
As we prepare for a change in protocols, please be aware of the following for the summer and fall courses:

Learning Management System Notice for Students

Texas A&M University has fully implemented Canvas, the new Learning Management System (LMS) for the university. In fewer than 100 days, we no longer will use and support eCampus (Blackboard). The Office for Academic Innovation (OAI) created a new Learning Management System website that provides links to information about making the move to Canvas and to the OAI training and support resources available for faculty. 

Course Syllabi

Course syllabi must be provided to students no later than the first day of your class. To comply with state law requiring online posting, please upload your syllabi on the Howdy portal. The Faculty Senate approved minimum syllabus requirements can be found here along with an optional MS Word template to help build your own syllabus. Please be aware that Faculty Senate Executive Committee voted recently to eliminate the “COVID Temporary Addendum” and to deactivate the self-reporting form for the summer. As we return to pre-COVID modalities for instruction, the campus should revert to the requirements of Student Rule 7 for attendance, accommodations for absences, and other issues associated with illness or missing class.

Proctoring 

The university will continue to support online proctoring options for classes that are approved for online delivery. Instructors who would like exams to be proctored by the university may use the Aggie Proctoring Center. Those who would prefer to proctor the exam themselves may use Respondus or Zoom. Note that Honorlock is now limited to select distance education (DE) programs and is not available for broader campus use. Online proctoring information is available on our keepteaching website.

Face coverings

Pursuant to Executive Order No. GA-36 issued last week by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, face coverings can no longer be required on Texas A&M University campuses. This became effective on May 18, and applies to all indoor and outdoor facilities and venues.
GA-36 does not prohibit individuals from wearing masks and you should do so if you feel it is appropriate. For employees and students who have not been vaccinated, face coverings are highly recommended to reduce the spread of COVID-19. We strongly encourage vaccination, with information for doing so available here.

Signage on campus will be replaced with this updated guidance.

For continued updates regarding COVID-19 information including testing and vaccinations, please visit www.tamu.edu/coronavirus, which soon will be updated with new information, including summer and fall protocols.

Sincerely, 
 
Mark H. Weichold
Interim Provost & Executive Vice President