Greetings dear Winthrop!
I'll be holding virtual drop-in hours this Friday, April 10th, from 10:30 to 1:30 via Zoom here! Otherwise, please continue to use my scheduling link.
This is overdue but, remember when I sent a harried email just asking that you copy me in your requests for extensions or other considerations to instructors instead of asking me, then asking them, then my asking them, then my reaching back out to you, etc?
Let me give a HUGE THANK YOU to so many of you who took me up on that. It saves so much time, actually increases transparency between everyone and is a great relationship-builder for you and your instructors. I have enjoyed watching the discussions between some of you and your instructors about what's going on and am honored to support you in these times. Of course, as always, I will step in when more's needed than a straightforward "I need x" exchange.
Scroll on for some important clarifications and updates on the emergency grading system and that qualitative assessment thing....
A few of you have already reached out asking just what the heck it means that Faculty will provide qualitative assessment. You can see the guidelines for faculty here. Some of the criteria they'll be using is below:
What course(s) would this student be prepared to take next semester?
What is the student’s proficiency with key concepts and skills that will be required for progress in subsequent courses?
What material may require refreshing before subsequent courses?
What would you want instructors of future courses to know about this student’s skills/performance?
Very important: As the new grading policy suggests this is still being developed in real time with discussions still occurring. My suggestion is that you engage directly with your faculty about your concerns over your assessment. Also, something to keep in mind: Harvard is leading much of the policy-making in the pandemic around higher education and even jobs. It may be in your best interest, painful as it feels, to simply PAUSE. To be present in this very moment, take your classes, take your own notes to provide your faculty if/when the time comes and see what the next six to twelve months will bring. I cannot stress enough that we do not know what the next month will bring, not the next week or even the next day.
Check out important College happenings from its new blog Weekly Digest. See below for news from OSAPR, Title IX, ARC and some excellent reads on higher education, coronavirus and socioeconomics.
Finally, in the spirit of celebrating our humanity I admit this past week was probably the hardest for me so far. I'm not an introvert so much as an introverted extrovert. Meaning I like being alone amongst people. I don't feel as if I have all this free time so much as I feel unmoored and out of sorts. I am working on getting back to some sort of schedule, part of that looks like radically flipping my daily priorities placing writing and reading first and email second (just the thought of an uncleared inbox sends me in a panic). This book has been very helpful: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17606014-manage-your-day-to-day (And if you're not yet on Goodreads, get on it and join me in a Reading Challenge!).
Very Truly Yours,
DC
p.s. As promised, check out below all the amazing programming by our House tutor-fam!
Winthrop Happenings!
Saturday (April 11th) at 8:30pm ET, Lauren and Parker will be hosting a Winthrop House Netflix Watch Party! We will watch a movie together (the program will automatically sync everyone's Netflix videos!) as a house and will have a chat window for discussion and fun on the side of the screen! We want you all to pick the movie! Please email Lauren and Parker with your Netflix movie suggestions by Thursday at 8:00pm ET. We’ll have everyone vote on the nominees, and we will announce the winner on Saturday morning!
Weekly Restorative Yoga Podcast with Kirin!: The first two week are up. Listen Here: https://hcwc.fas.harvard.edu/wellness
Trivia Night - Friday, April 17th @ 8pm: Grab up to 5 friends and log on to Zoom to join in on 90 minutes of tricky trivia and see who comes out on top! More info coming soon - sign up here to stay updated!
Everything is a work in progress. Even you.
YOUR HEALTH
8 smart tips to help you sleep better during the COVID-19 crisis (Fast Company)
Harvard Recreation Virtual Classes-FREE for all Harvard students
Psychologist Roxanne Donovan Offers Mental Health Tips During COVID-19 Outbreak (NPR)
Center for Wellness- practice mindfulness through daily Meditation and Yoga
Why You Should Ignore All That Coronavirus-Inspired Productivity Pressure (Chronicle of Higher Education)
That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief (Harvard Business Review)
Use #HarvardMoves on social media to post exercise updates and tag Winthrop House to see what people are doing around the world!
If you are not receiving the Harvard Recreation Weekly Tips & Tricks newsletter, please sign up HERE or stay connected by following on Instagram@harvardrec!
GRATITUDE
ACADEMICS
Academic Resource Center -- Be sure to regularly check out the ARC for links on Zooming properly, learning remotely and applying to be a Peer Tutor this fall!
HARVARD
RESOURCES
Mondays at OSAPR (Netflix & Chill!)
Thursdays at OSAPR (Lunch & Learns)
OSAPR: Our general number is not currently receiving phone calls, but please call the 24-hour hotline at 617 595 9100 should you need immediate support. If you would like to schedule a phone consultation, email osapr@harvard.edu. Connect with us on on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or check OSAPR.harvard.edu for office updates.
Harvard College Title IX: Harvard College’s Title IX Coordinators, Erin Clark and Brian Libby, will continue to be a resource to students. In the Coordinator’s role receiving disclosures, they can be a resource regardless of when or where an incident occurred, or the identity of the other party. Erin and Brian’s work supporting students will strive to ensure appropriate interim measures, supports, and resources are available in the current environment. Students can schedule a meeting by Zoom or by phone between 8:30am and 5pm EST Monday through Friday. For students unable to meet during this time frame, please contact erin_clark@fas.harvard.edu and Erin and Brian will accommodate time zone and schedule to the best of their ability. Office Hours will continue to be held on Tuesdays from 2-4pm EST through the semester. This can be an opportunity for students at Harvard College to stop in for a quick conversation or question with Title IX Coordinator Erin Clark. Zoom link here as well: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/274693136.
GOODREADS
Millions of Low-Income Students Are Being Denied Access to Internet
‘Zoomed Out’: Why ‘Live’ Teaching Isn’t Always the Best (Chronicle of Higher Ed)
College Made Them Feel Equal. The Virus Exposed How Unequal Their Lives Are. (The New York Times)
The Doubled Fears of the Undocumented During the Coronavirus Shutdown (The New Yorker)
Indigenous 'at much greater risk' amid coronavirus pandemic (Al Jazeera)