Faculty FAQ

SMC has provided a robust Distance Education/Online Learning program since the late 1990’s. It is instruction delivered asynchronously (I.e., not in “real time”) and offers a variety of features that ensure students receive the same level of instruction as their on-ground counterparts. All Distance Education courses are approved by the Curriculum Committee.  They also have a different apportionment process than our on-ground and hybrid classes.

Remote Instruction is our response to the COVID-19 crisis. This is a temporary measure to enable on-ground students to continue progressing toward the attainment of course objectives and SLOs using a different instructional modality outside of the physical classroom setting. Students will participate from home or other off campus location of their choosing. Faculty will teach the course either from their home or a classroom that has been equipped with a web cam using Zoom meetings, or through Canvas shells, or a combination of both.

You should put warnings on your content that students would be violating the SMC Code of Conduct if they repost your original digital content.

We anticipate very few class cancelations. For those rare cases, faculty may work on instruction-related non-teaching assignments in lieu of instructional classroom and preparation time. Faculty must consult their department chair to identify those alternative assignments. Department chairs must contact Academic Affairs for alternate assignment approval and to determine the work hours required for an equivalent assignment. Emeritus (noncredit Older Adult program) and Health Science faculty should consult with the program administrator (Emeritus: Scott Silverman, Health Sciences: Eve Adler).

We are urging all faculty to be creative, understanding, and to adjust their assessment of students’ progress given the tremendous challenges faced by faculty and students at this time.

If instructor provides a reserve book it will be made available to students during Library open hours.  For more information please contact Bren Antrim, Library Chair.

View Student Remote Instruction for tools and steps on how to use these tools.

Faculty may use their own technology at home or access the classrooms that have been equipped with instructional technology on the main campus. This alternative will be available while the campus remains open to essential employees.

Yes, to the extent that we can obtain licenses and push this technology to students and faculty. Please coordinate with your department chair.

Please let your Department Chair know of tools needed to facilitate students’ instruction at home. Be creative – perhaps there are online assignments, experiments, simulations, written exercises, etc. that students could pursue at home.

Zoom appears to be a very effective option for delivery class lectures, but Canvas also offers a wide range of effective tools that can be used to augment Zoom meetings. The important thing is to provide students with as many hours of instruction as would normally have occurred during this time to ensure that they are making progress toward achieving the objectives and SLOs of the course.

Remote instruction can also evolve over time and consider adding tools as you become familiar and adept with basic functions and features of Canvas and Zoom. The college is providing training and will continue to provide support during this time.

The state has approved the removal of a W, as long as the following criteria is met by the "Guaranteed Withdrawal Deadline" (found in Corsair Connect)for the course in question:

• The student drops the class

• The student submits a Petition for Withdrawal Due to Extraordinary Conditions to admissions@smc.edu

Students are asked to VERY carefully consider if dropping the class is truly in their best interest. Understandably, tensions and frustrations are high, but do consider potential consequences, such as: financial aid impact, reaching educational goals, health insurance, visa status (F-1 students visit www.smc.edu/askiecc), and many others.

Refunds of enrollment fees will be issued within 45 days after the petition has been processed. If the student remains enrolled in any other class, student services fees (Health, Associated Students, ID Card fee) will not be refunded.

Please use Zoom or reschedule meetings until after this semester. For example, the Program Review Committee will be meeting via Zoom. Check with the committee chair for information.

We will offer Community Education (fee-based) classes online or remotely. Those that cannot be offered online will be cancelled.