Cherry Blossoms

CAS Advising update, Mon March 23

All,
 
Another week of chaotic and rapidly evolving uncertainty. I have no information about how the Governor’s announcement might change anything for us, but here are a few other Monday updates…
 

I know students are considering various alternative strategies for Spring, such as withdrawing or taking courses elsewhere. Please remind your students about the Senior Residence rule. There is no change in the rule, but do not expect exceptions related to the coronavirus emergency. I just don’t know what is going to happen, so the safest strategy for students is simply to meet the requirement so they don’t need an exception. (Which, of course, DARS cannot track; hence the reminder now.) Here’s a link from the Registrar website so you don’t have to explain it all yourself:

 
https://www.washington.edu/students/gencat/front/Requirements_BA.html#FINALYEAR
 
And from the UAA website (under “Residence Credits”):
 
https://www.washington.edu/uaa/advising/academic-planning/terms-and-policies/#R
 

On a related note, we expect all UW courses to count as residence credit in Spring 2020, despite the fact that they will be online. We say that not because someone has confirmed it, but because to do otherwise would make so little sense.


We will be launching a website for CAS advisors in the next few days, to consolidate the various messages, resources, and so forth. More details soon.


Thanks to those of you who had time to zoom with us last week. I’ll send a summary of key issues/concerns we heard when we launch the website, since we may be able to answer a few questions there. In the meantime, continue to let us know problems or questions. At the very least, we’ll collect them and pass them on to the right owner.


Dean Stacey will also send an email tonight or tomorrow to chairs, including some additional guidance on grading and managing TA assignments (questions that arose in interviews). I’ll forward that when I see it.


Finally, we will convene a task force to maintain focus on ongoing issues identified in those conversations. Let Cynthia or me know if you are interested. (We realize, of course, that everyone is going to be busy in a few days. You don’t have to participate to stay in the loop; we’ll keep everyone updated.)
 
More to come. Take care of yourself!
 
 
 
best,
Kevin
 
________________________________________
 
Kevin K. Mihata, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Educational Programs
Director, Center for 21st Century Liberal Learning (C21)
c21.uw.edu
 
College of Arts and Sciences
Box 353765
050 Communications
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington 98195-3765
voice 206.221.0856
FAX 206.543.5462