Strategies for Helping Students in Quarantine/Isolation Due to COVID-19 Maintain Academic Continuity

From Dr. Jean Morrison, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer,
Dr. Daniel Kleinman, Associate Provost for Graduate Affairs,
and Dr. Amie Grills, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs

Quarantine and isolation are critical public health measures used for reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.  At BU, students who need to enter quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19 will be asked to follow specific guidelines which will require their absence from classes. While they are following these protocols, they may need assistance in keeping up with their academic work. We have asked faculty to remain flexible and supportive in these circumstances.

To ensure that all students and faculty have access to the necessary resources, each school/college has designated an Academic Continuity Coordinator to help students and faculty navigate learning and teaching for students in isolation/quarantine due to COVID-19. You may be contacted by an Academic Continuity Coordinator about a particular student, but you should also feel free to reach out to your school’s Academic Continuity Coordinator for assistance. In addition, each school/college has an identified member of their team who can provide support for faculty and course instructors who have questions about how to support students. The list of these individuals is provided at the end of this document.

As you know, the transition this fall back to in-person classes means that we will no longer offer recording or live-streaming of classes as a substitute for attendance. We do, however, encourage you to consider alternative strategies for helping students maintain academic continuity should they be in quarantine/isolation due to COVID-19. A list of possible options for supporting students’ learning while they are in quarantine/isolation can be found under the Teaching and Research FAQ section of the Back2BU Faculty Support webpage.

As we work together to help ensure a safe and successful semester ahead, it is the contributions of faculty to this effort that perhaps make the greatest difference. The commitment you have shown over the last 18 months to support the academic progress of your students has been truly remarkable. You have helped make BU a national model for teaching and learning amid the COVID response, and we want to thank you for your continued devotion both to this university and to all those in your classrooms, laboratories, and studios – particularly those facing disruption in their academic lives.

Faculty Contacts

College of Arts & Sciences
Joseph Bizup, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs and Policies
email: jbizup@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-2409

Mathematical and Computational Sciences: John Byers, Associate Dean of the Faculty
email: byers@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-8925

Social Sciences: Nazli Kibria, Associate Dean of the Faculty
email: nkibria@bu.edu, phone: 617-358-0641

Humanities: Karl Kirchwey, Associate Dean of the Faculty
email: kirchwey@bu.edu, phone: 617-358-7344

Natural Sciences: Michael Sorenson, Associate Dean of the Faculty
email: msoren@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-6983

College of Communication
Tammy Vigil, Senior Associate Dean
email: tvigil@bu.edu, phone: 617-358-6683

College of Engineering
W. Clem Karl, Professor and Chair of Electrical & Computer Engineering
email: wckarl@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-1237

College of Fine Arts
John Amend, Associate Dean for Finance and Administration
email: jamend@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-8781

College of General Studies
Lynn O’Brien Hallstein, Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development
email: lhallst@bu.edu, phone: 617-358-0180

College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College
Gael Orsmond, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
email: gorsmond@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-2703

Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences
Chris Devits, Director of Administration
email: cdevits@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-8829

Kilachand Honors College
Carrie Preston, Director
email: cjpresto@bu.edu,  phone: 617-358-5900

Metropolitan College
Lou Chitkushev, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
email: ltc@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-3000

Pardee School of Global Studies
William Grimes, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
email: wgrimes@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-9420

Questrom School of Business
Marcel Rindisbacher, Senior Associate Dean, Faculty & Research
email: rindisbm@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-4152

School of Dental Medicine
Joseph Calabrese, Associate Dean of Students
email: jobean@bu.edu, phone: 617-358-6853

School of Hospitality Administration
Leora Lanz, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs
email: lhlanz@bu.edu, phone: 617-358-2112

School of Law
Anna di Robilant, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
email: robilant@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-3099

School of Medicine
Hee-Young Park, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
email: hypark@bu.edu, phone: 617-358-9600

School of Public Health
Lisa Sullivan, Associate Dean for Education
email: lsull@bu.edu, phone: 617-358-1489

School of Social Work
S. Wade Taylor, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
email: swade@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-7912

School of Theology
Bryan Stone, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
email: bpstone@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-2456

Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
Melissa Holt, Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs
email: holtm@bu.edu, phone: 617-358-4668

Strategies for Helping Students in Quarantine/Isolation Due to COVID-19 Maintain Academic Continuity – 9.17.21