Summary: This memo outlines FAS teaching policies for Fall 2021. It includes information on the following topics:
- In-person teaching and in-person learning
- Masks in classrooms
- Lecture and seminar courses
- Faculty requests for long-term accommodations
- Faculty requests for short-term arrangements
- Expectations for teaching fellows
- Visitors to campus
To: FAS Faculty
Cc: FAS Steering; FAS Dean’s Office; GSAS Dean’s Office; Yale College Dean’s Office; FAS Lead Administrators, Operations Managers, and Chairs Assistants; Provost’s Office; President’s Office
Dear FAS Faculty,
In recent days, many of you have reached out with questions regarding fall semester teaching. We write today with some answers; others will be forthcoming in the coming weeks. Below, you will find information on FAS policies regarding the following topics:
- In-person teaching and in-person learning
- Masks in classrooms
- Lecture and seminar courses
- Faculty requests for long-term accommodations
- Faculty requests for short-term arrangements
- Expectations for teaching fellows
- Visitors to campus
We remind you that this is a dynamic situation, and the policies outlined here are subject to change in accord with the public health situation. We will continue to follow the science-based guidance of Yale’s public health committee
In-person teaching and in-person learning
Teaching during the fall 2021 semester will take place in person, on campus, as planned. Faculty who are not yet in town should therefore plan to return to New Haven by late August. As noted in the message sent by Scott Strobel earlier this afternoon, the university will change the COVID alert level to yellow on August 9. This change is to reinforce the importance of abiding by public health guidelines as we return to in-person teaching.
All enrolled students must return for in-person learning in the fall. While instructors may make short-term individual arrangements for remote instruction for students who are in temporary quarantine or isolation, they may not approve such arrangements for a period of more than two weeks.
Effective August 2, 2021, university policy requires that all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks in indoor campus spaces. There is some hope that the public health situation will improve so that teaching can take place without masks as the term begins. However, if community transmission in New Haven County remains substantial, masks may be required during the opening weeks of term. This does not change our plan to resume in-person classes. Regardless of CDC or university guidelines, any faculty member may require students to wear masks in their class.
Expectations for lecture and lab courses
We expect that lecture and lab courses will take place as previously planned, without the need to de-densify classrooms and labs. If changes to this policy are required, we will provide technological support to faculty whose classes are affected.
Expectations for seminar courses
Seminars are expected to meet in person. Transparent masks, which may facilitate conversation and communication, will be provided to faculty and students on request. Information on how to request transparent masks is forthcoming.
Faculty requests for long-term accommodations
Faculty are expected to teach in person. As you know from the message that you received from Scott, the vast majority of our students, staff and faculty have been vaccinated, and all unvaccinated students, faculty and staff will be tested twice per week for as long as indicated by public health conditions. These requirements and additional campus public health measures have been implemented to keep our campus as safe as possible.
If a faculty member believes that they need a workplace accommodation because they have a medical condition that places them at exceptionally high risk for severe illness with COVID-19, they should contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA). OIEA will work with the FAS Dean’s office to put in place reasonable accommodations.
Faculty requests for short-term arrangements
In certain exceptional cases when it is temporarily impossible for a faculty member to teach in person (for instance, due to a COVID-related quarantine, or a delay in receiving a visa), short-term remote teaching may be necessary. These arrangements should last fewer than two weeks.
- Faculty in the Humanities and Social Sciences should submit short-term arrangement requests to John Mangan, Senior Associate Dean and Dean of Faculty Affairs, at john.mangan@yale.edu.
- Faculty in Science and SEAS should submit short-term arrangement requests to Bob Burger, Senior Associate Dean, at robert.burger@yale.edu.
- If special arrangements are deemed appropriate, details of teaching will be determined at the departmental level.
Expectations for Teaching Fellows (TFs)
There will be no remote TFs during the fall 2021 term. All TFs are expected to be in residence when classes begin, teaching in person, whether as section leaders or grader/tutors. Instructors may not make ad hoc hybrid or remote arrangements with their Teaching Fellows.
We expect that the visitors policy established on July 16 will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. Individual visitors who are invited by a university host and approved by the unit Health and Safety Leader will be permitted on campus only if the visitor is fully vaccinated. Health and Safety Leaders will only approve visitors in circumstances where there is a compelling reason for the visit to take place on campus rather than virtually. Examples of visitors who may be approved include: academic collaborators of faculty; speakers in seminars or colloquia; finalists for academic jobs. At this time, unfortunately, we are not able to approve requests for conferences or gatherings involving multiple outside visitors. Visits must be short-term (generally 24-48 hours). The visitor must be fully vaccinated.
Again, given the fluid nature of the public health situation, the policies outlined here are subject to change. We are continuing to monitor local conditions, with the guidance of the Yale public health committee, and we will alert you to any policy changes that could affect your teaching or research activities.
We are grateful to each of you for your understanding and for your dedication to our students.
Thank you for all that you do for the FAS.
Warmly,
Tamar
Tamar Szabó Gendler
Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Vincent J. Scully Professor of Philosophy
Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science