Dept of English Emergency Plan

Overview Contingency Plans for English

I should preface this report by saying that, of course, all of these plans have their limits: an instructor cannot teach via Blackboard when very ill; colleagues cannot substitute for other colleagues for extended periods of time; some work, for example, that of UBMs is specialized and can be done only in part by others.

That said, we have distributed suggestions and information to all employees. All have been instructed to develop contingency plans to deal with both instructional coverage and student absences.
If there is a flu problem, a daily list of who is out and who is taking over will be compiled. This list will be posted on the Department website, distributed to the Chair, staff, and directors (Ridley, Kopelson, Griner, Wolfe, Rosner, Ryan), and sent to the Dean's office.

Administration (supporting documentation on file in Dean's Office)

All administrators and directors have filed plans with Amanda Thompson and shared them with the other relevant staff members. For example:
Chair
•    Work from home via internet as possible
•    If Griffin is out, Susan Ryan, Vice-Chair, will serve as Acting Chair
•    If neither Susan Griffin nor Susan Ryan are available, due to illness, Dennis Hall will serve as Acting Chair
•    Griffin, Ryan, and Hall have distributed home and cell contact information to staff. Griffin has arranged for Fax communications.

Staff (supporting documentation on file in Dean's Office)

The English Office Staff are competent and experienced. Regularly scheduled Staff meetings have increased the sharing of information and expertise. I am confident in their ability to keep things functioning (unless, of course, illness and absences become epidemic).

Classes (supporting documentation on file in Dean's Office)

Contingency plans from instructors have been filed with appropriate staff members: Linda Baldwin (Composition instructors), Pamela Drake (Undergraduate instructors), Karen Habeeb (Graduate instructors). Please note: Because of their unique situations, part-time instructors have been told that they may request that the Director of Composition assign Assistant Directors to cover (some) classes.
English instructors, especially Composition instructors, are already heavy users of Blackboard. This fact should help in the case of absences. Readings can be made available, discussions can take place online, students can hand in written work electronically, some group work can be done online, etc.

IESL

Nancy Henry and Barbara Brown will cover for each other in the event that one is out sick. Anne Griner can cover for both or either as long as she is not covering classes for a teacher out sick. Keeping the office open will be a priority; however, classroom instruction will trump office duties from 9am-2pm in the event that Brown and Henry are both out at the same time.

Writing Center

If Ruth Miller is out, consultants will replace, but tutoring will be canceled if no one is available.

If Robin Blackett is out, work study or consultant will cover desk, but tutoring will be canceled if no one is available.

Additional actions:

English has purchased and made available to all Department employees (instructors, staff, etc.)  sanitizing wipes and disinfectant spray. Work-study students will wipe down areas of the main office (doorknobs, etc.) weekly.
Staff may leave the office during regular working hours to receive flu shots on campus.

We hope that, as suggested at the last Chairs’ Meeting, the Dean will instruct the Delphi Center to allow UBMs access to all Blackboard course sites.