• The university announced reduced on-campus operations on March. 16. View details in the full announcement.
• Information on remote instruction for students, including access instructions and technology resources, is at www.kent.edu/keeponlearning. Remote instruction resources for faculty may be found at www.kent.edu/keeponteaching.
• Only a limited number of staff will be asked to report to work in person. Units designated for on-campus service will operate with limited staff in rotation. Most employees will work remotely. Employees should discuss their work requirements with their supervisors, as sustained availability in a virtual sense is vital for serving the needs of our students as well as the continued operations of the university. View the teleworking guidelines.
• For technology issues, contact TechHelp by either submitting a support ticket or via Live Chat with support staff. You can also call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 330-672-HELP.
• We urge all Kent State community members to sign up for Flash ALERTS to receive crisis communications through the emergency text system.

Academic continuity refers to the continuation of courses (programs, degrees). In the case of an on-campus emergency (weather, pandemic), academic continuity for classes on campus may not be able to be ensured unless other teaching modalities, including remote delivery, are considered.

What is academic continuity?

Academic continuity refers to the continuation of courses (programs, degrees). In the case of an on-campus emergency (weather, pandemic), academic continuity for classes on campus may not be able to be ensured unless other teaching modalities, including remote delivery, are considered.

Where do I access resources related to academic continuity?

The Office of Continuing and Distance Education has developed a set of resources for additional information.

Who do I contact with questions related to academic continuity and instructional support?

Contact keeponteaching@kent.edu

Note:

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  Information on remote instruction for students, including access instructions and technology resources, is at www.kent.edu/keeponlearning.

• For technology issues, contact TechHelp by either submitting a support ticket or via Live Chat with support staff. You can also call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 330-672-HELP. 

• Contact keeponteaching@kent.edu
• For technology issues, contact TechHelp

It is always a good idea to consider what steps you can take to deliver your course remotely in case of extreme weather or a pandemic. Make sure you can access all your course materials off-campus and are also able to communicate with your students (e.g. through email and Blackboard Learn). For additional resources helping you get started to ensure you can deliver your course remotely, please visit the Continuity Guide

Instructors are encouraged to use flexibility and judgment when considering whether to request documentation when students indicate they have the flu or a virus. For further information related to how to handle student absences due to a minor illness see the following resource from the Center for Teaching and Learning.

We ask instructors make reasonable accommodations to ensure sick students don’t come in contact with other individuals. Reasonable accommodations may include options for students to complete assignments remotely.

Current payroll processing periods and benefit coverages will remain in place.

Hourly employees working from home will be allowed to report hours on a weekly basis to their supervisors, who will confirm such hours for pay purposes.

• University-sponsored travel – domestic and international – remains suspended until further notice. No future university-sponsored travel may be booked unless approved by a dean or vice president until further notice. 

• While Kent State is not able to stop anyone from taking a personal trip, we strongly urge members of the Kent State community to consider such plans carefully at this volatile time and recommend that all heed CDC travel notices.

• During this time, if you are fulfilling your university responsibilities (e.g., teaching courses, research commitments, service commitments) and other university duties remotely, you are not considered absent from campus. However, if you travel for any reason out of state (or even to known hot spots in the state), please notify your chair/director.

• Depending on the travel destination, faculty, staff and students may be subject to self-isolation and/or quarantine requirements before they will be permitted to return to campus.

• If for any reason you are not fulfilling your university responsibilities during the term of your employment contract, you must fill out the appropriate form (e.g., sick leave, FMLA, etc.).

• Keep in mind that full-time faculty are on contract during the week of spring break and must be available to fulfill your university responsibilities during that time.