WU Math/Stat COVID 19 Info

Wash U Links and Resources

1. Wash U Corona Virus Hotline: 314-935-8300 or 888-234-2863.
2. CoronaVirus.wustl.edu
3. InsideArtSci.wustl.edu - Covid19
4. InsideArtSci.wustl.edu - Communications Archive
5. Wash U Corona Virus Policy FAQ
6. Wash U Art Sci Interim Policies
7. Wash U Art Sci Policy Ammendments
8. Wash U IT: Zoom and other technology solutions.
9. Wash U Zoom: Zoom login web access.
10. Wash U Teaching Continuous: Wash U's main site for resources.
11. Chancellor Martin's Mar 11 Message
12. Student Union COVID19 Google Sheet: Resources for students, such as announcements and housing.
13. New Arts and Science Academic Integrity Policy: Coming soon!
14. Office Undergraduate Research - Covid19
15. McKelvey School Covid19 Resources
16. Wash U IT - Telecommuting
17. Wash U Library and Remote Access
18. Teaching Center: Strategies for Remote Teaching

FAQ: Graduation

1. Arts and Sciences Virtual Recognition Ceremony: https://artsci2020.virtualrecognition.wustl.edu/

2. Departmental Virtual Open Houses: https://artsci2020.virtualrecognition.wustl.edu/department-and-program-celebrations

3. Math Department Virtual Open House: The department will hold a reception for graduating seniors via Zoom rooms on Friday, May 15, from 1 to 2 pm. If you are graduating, you will receive information via email from Blake Thornton. For questions and more information, please reach out to bthornton@wustl.edu.

FAQ: Wash U Policies

1. Will the semester be extended?
   Answer: No. The last day of classes will be April 24, as previously scheduled.

2. What about graduation/commencement?
   Answer: May Commencement has been cancelled.

3. Can I change a course to/from Pass/Fail?
   Answer: This is a school policy decision and handled by the various schools (Art Sci, McKelvey, Olin, etc).
   The Art Sci answer is in the Interim Policies link. Basically, you have until Apr 24 to change courses to/from pass/fail.
   Note: (Mar 19) I have heard reports from students that they have been unable to do this from inside webstac. As far as I know this capability will eventually be added to webstac. Keep trying and if you are unable to do this by Mar 27 let me know and I will see what I can find out. Let me know if you are able to do this as well.

4. What if I get sick?
   Answer: Contact your school's Dean's office (Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Olin, etc.)

FAQ: Wash U Math/Stat Majors

1. I am not allowed to count pass/fail courses toward my Math/Stat major or minor. Will this change?
   Answer: Courses taken Spring 2020 pass/fail can count toward your major/minor in the Math/Stat Department. Of course, other departments may have different policies, even for courses taken in the Math/Stat Department--you should check with them for thier policies.

2. I was doing an honors project, what do I do now?
   Answer: You still need to turn in your project (send it as a pdf) and an abstract (send both a pdf and a text file). You will also need to do a presentation, which can be done using zoom/skype/etc.

3. I had to return from a study abroad, what now?
   Answer: We are working with the study abroad office but please contact us so we can figure out details.

4. Can I help the department in any way--migrating to online, being a TA, etc?
   Answer: I don't know yet.

5. What about summer research?
   Answer: I don't know yet. You can look here for more information: Office Undergraduate Research - Covid19

FAQ: Wash U Math/Stat Courses (for Students)

1. Wash U's Student Guide to Remote Learning (There's a FAQ there too.)

2. Will the schedule for my course (homework/exams/etc) remain the same?
   Answer: Probably not. Your revised schedule should be posted on the course webpage or Canvas. Check with your instructor.

3. Will the syllabus (including grading system) for the course remain the same?
   Answer: You will need to check with your instructor for this.

4. How will lectures be held?
   Answer: Your instructor will let you know what you need to do. More than likely there will be videos to watch and/or video conferencing to participate in.

5. Exams?
   Answer: All exams, including final exams, will be conducted remotely. Your instructor should be working on a plan for exams and should let you know.

6. Exams through DR?
   Answer: We are working with DR for this. Your instructor should have some solutions for you.

7. My textbook and notes are in my dormroom!
   Answer: I believe the university is working to get these materials shipped to you.
   Talk to your instructor--he/she might have materials to share with you.
   Talk to the other students--they might have notes to share with you.

8. Free Textbooks Through Cengage:
   If your course is using a Cengage book then you can use Cengage Unlimited for free.
   • For students who have purchased Cengage Unlimited: Keep using it!
   • For students who are not currently using Cengage Unlimited: Go to cengage.com, create a Cengage account. Once you have logged in, select "Start Trial" on the left hand side of your Cengage dashboard. Once your trial has begun, you can enter ISBN for the titles you want in the search bar. In two weeks, you will be told to renew the trial. At this point it will take just a few minutes and you will be able to continually renew free access through end of this term.
   • For students who have already activated a trial of Cengage Unlimited within the past 75 days, but then did not purchase: you will need to call Cengage Support (phone number 1-800-354-9706) to unlock the trial access. This should only be necessary until Wednesday March 18, when Cengage will be taking trial access restriction off Cengage Unlimited.
   • More Information: Cengage Trial Access (pdf)

9. What about timezone differences?
   Answer: Speak to your instructor, but more than likely we will have to stick to a Central Time Zone schedule.

10. How do I get help in a class?
    Answer: Your instructor (and teaching assistant, if any) will be holding virtual office hours. Your instructor should let you know details soon.

11. How do work with other students?
    Answer: Quite honestly, students probably have better ways to figure this out than anything we can suggest. That said, there are lots of tools: Zoom, Piazza, Canvas, etc.

12. I don't have Internet access where I am, what should I do?
    Answer 1: Comcast is offering 2 months free: https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19
    Answer 2: Charter is offering 2 months free. Call 1-844-488-8395. Charter Newsroom

13. How do I get online access to the Wash U library?
    Answer:Wash U Library - Off Campus Access (VPN)

FAQ: Wash U Math/Stat for Graduate Students

1. What about graduate qualifying exams?
   Answer: Contact your instructor.

2. Can I take graduate courses/convert the existing grade option to S/U (pass/fail) for the rest of the semester?
   Answer: Yes, this is permissible. Mary Ann can help you with this.

3. I'm graduating, what will happen with my diploma? How do I get it?
   Answer: The graduate school will handle this, probably mailing it to you.

FAQ: Wash U Math/Stat Instruction (For Faculty)

1. Homework Options: There are many choices and most providers have made their products free during the pandemic. If there is a product you want to try, I encourage you to reach out to that platform and try it out.
   • Canvas (supported)
   • Crowdmark (supported)
   • Gradescope (partially supported--other departments use this extensively)
   • Piazza: Good for class discussions
   • Bit Paper: Interactive White Board (more difficult with a mouse).

2. Teaching Center Consultations: The Teaching Center is ready to help.

3. MAA Community Connections: Discussion and seminars about teaching during the crisis.

4. Teaching Center Help with Lecture Video Capture: Please contact Julia Johnson (julia.johnson@wustl.edu).

5. Teaching Center Events: Seminars and training on online teaching.

6. Exams? This seems to be the trickiest. Some ideas are below.
   • Many courses and well suited for open book take home exams. In this case, exams can be turned in as homework. A time limit could even be set by requiring the exam be turned in at a certain time.
   • Respondus is a sytem that supposedly allows a more proctored exams--time limits and students are "watched" through their web camera on their computer. I believe this is available in Canvas.
     Respondus Training
   • Good list of advice from Psychology Dept: OnlineExamAdvice-Psych (pdf)
   • More advice from the teaching center: Teaching Center Online Exams (pdf)

7. Lecture: There seem to be two options here: Pre-recorded video lectures and dynamic lectures with students involvement.
   • Zoom allows up to 300 to be on one call--students can answer questions and chime in.
   • Zoom is probably the best option but there are certainly other options (Youtube? Skype? Canvas?)
   • Best method to record video without student involvement? Videocamera, phone, computer camera, etc. Then, post to canvas.
   • Kaltura is another option that I haven't explored. If you want help with Kaltura the teaching center can help: Teaching Center Google Doc
   • Teaching Center-Live Online Tips (pdf)
   • Practice! Maybe run a "mock" class so everyone can try out the technology.

8. Discussion Sections: These can be held on Zoom with a group of students.
   The teaching center has a document for ideas: Teaching Center - Discussion Sections (pdf).

9. Communications with students: Canvas Announcements, email. Have you set up your canvas page?

10. Students with Accommodations?
    For exams, the department and DR should be giving recommendations.
    For general advice, the Teaching Center has a document available: TeachingCenter-ExtraAccommodations.docx

11. Office Hours
    • Zoom, skype, google hangouts, even facebook could work. Zoom is great because it allows a large group to meet together and you can break students into "breakout groups."

12. Student Union Help!
    The Student Union has offered to help with online teaching and understanding student perspectives. Contact Anne He, administration@su.wustl.edu

13. What if I (the instructor) get sick?
    Answer: No official policy but we will have to all work together.

14. Examples of what to communicate with your students: Initial Announcements Examples and more.

15. Do you want to help with a study of in-person versus online teaching: Student Outcommes Recruitment (PDF)