Statement to SJSU Lurie College Students from Dean Heather Lattimer | March 14, 2020

Dear Lurie College of Education Students –

Many, many thanks to all of you for your strength, flexibility, generosity, and leadership during these challenging times. I’ve been so impressed by students who have stepped up to help create calm and consistent learning environments in your field placements, offered support for peers learning to navigate online learning platforms, and reached out to faculty and staff with thoughtful questions and suggestions. Your response to adversity speaks volumes about your personal strength and your potential for leadership in our schools, clinics, and communities. Thank you!!!

A few notes as we prepare to re-launch classes during this coming week —

Field Experiences — Many of our field placement sites have closed. Most closures are currently planned for 3-4 weeks. We will continue to work with our placement providers and monitor future placement options.

  • Students in Credential / Licensure Programs — For those in credential and licensure programs that require minimum numbers of hours and/or performance assessments, closures pose particular challenges. We are working with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and other licensing agencies to explore options. CTC has told us that it is their intent that everyone who is on target to complete a credential this year be able to do so. Exactly what this will look like is not yet known — Options for completing field experiences could include (1.) returning to placement sites when schools and clinics reopen, (2.) working alongside field experience mentors in online environments if placement sites move to online instruction / therapy, (3.) alternative assignments or simulation activities. We will keep you posted as we know more. If you have questions / concerns about the individual status of your program, please reach out to your program coordinator or department chair.
  • Speech Language Pathology Master’s Students — Some of our private and clinic placements remain open. If you are in the second year of the SLP program, we will work with you individually to determine how best to proceed. Please contact Drs. Mahendra and Quach.
  • Pre-Credential Students — Good news for our undergraduates who are planning to apply to credential programs this year. The Chancellor’s Office has temporarily suspended the required 45 pre-professional hours usually required to apply to a credential program. Saul Ruiz is available to help you navigate the application process. Please reach out to him directly.

Online Learning — Our faculty have spent the last week preparing to move classes online and we are excited about the possibilities ahead. That said, we fully anticipate that there will be challenges with the technology not working as hoped or the lesson not going as planned. It typically takes 6 months to move a class from on-site to online and we are asking faculty to accomplish this feat in 6 days. We are in this together as we all work to ensure that your learning continues and your progress to degree is on pace. Thank you in advance for your patience and persistence. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your instructors or advisors. We all want you to succeed! Please let us know if you require additional support or modifications due to individual circumstances.

Learning Supports — SJSU’s campus remains open and there are multiple people standing by to support you. Supports to ensure your success include the following:

  • The Lurie College Student Success Center has study space, computers for student use, and advising support available.
    • Both Sweeney Hall 106 (SSC) and 446 (SAC) are open and have been configured to allow for social distancing. We will open additional rooms as needed.
    • Academic advising is taking place in-person and virtually. Please make a note of your location preference in the comments when scheduling your appointment.
    • Upcoming workshops in the SSC will be held virtually! Please visit our calendar for access links.
    • Janene, Krista, Saul, and Annie are also great listeners and problem solvers. Please reach out by email, phone (408-924-2700), or in person if we can help you in any way!
  • SJSU Library’s Student Computer Services has laptops, iPads, headsets, and other tech resources available for take out. The library also provides computer labs and quiet study spaces. In addition, the Clark Hall Computer Lab and the ballrooms in the Student Union will have quiet study spaces available.
  • The Writing Center has suspended in-person tutoring, but is expanding their online options. Students can make appointments for online tutoring here.
  • The Accessible Education Center has staff available to support students with disabilities or learning challenges as we all navigate this new learning environment. If you have concerns, please reach out directly. If you do not yet have documented accommodations and would like to do so, they have designed a process specifically to help students who need support learning online. Learn more at sjsu.edu/aec/students/covid19

Additional Student Supports — We recognize that this is a stressful time. In addition to the services listed below, please reach out to faculty, staff, and administrators here in the college if you need support. We are here for you!

Thank you again for all of your care and support for one another and our larger Lurie College community.  We certainly did not expect that Spring 2020 would look quite like this… but thanks to our amazing students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners, I am confident we will come through this with strength and resilience!

If you have any additional questions, concerns, or suggestions or if you just need to talk, please email us at luriecollege@sjsu.edu.

With Gratitude —

Heather

Heather Lattimer, EdD
Dean and Professor
Connie L. Lurie College of Education
San Jose State University

Comments are closed.