Dear Nunn School Students,
I hope that this note finds you safe, healthy, and eager to focus on your academic pursuits during this coming Fall. At this point, there still remains considerable uncertainty and anxiety surrounding the semester. Rest assured, however, that the faculty and staff at the Nunn School have been working hard over the past months to ensure that you will have a safe, flexible, accessible, and substantive learning experience.
As you will find, the instructional mode for Fall 2020 courses is currently posted on OSCAR. As directed by the Institute, almost all of our courses are listed as “remote” or “hybrid,” offered in synchronous or asynchronous mode or a mix thereof. The “hybrid” mode allows for “some” on campus learning experience, as specified by the instructor. As per Institute guidelines, masks will be mandatory for all in-person classes/activities, all of the time, and irrespective of social distancing.
Due to wide ranging concerns and other reasons that will make it difficult for students to physically come to campus throughout the semester– including the possibility for mid-semester change in circumstances—the Nunn School faculty are designing respective courses so that they can switch readily between hybrid (or residential) and remote. Accordingly, all courses will be structured for flexibility, with all course content available to students in person and online throughout the semester. Consequently, there will be provisions made for students to participate remotely in all courses, including those in hybrid and residential mode, from the onset of the semester—with specific requirements and expectations conveyed by each instructor. Moreover, each instructor will define the specific dimensions and provisions for participation and delivery of course content, and is committed to maintaining timely, clear, and ongoing communication over the coming weeks leading up to and throughout the semester. So, please stay tuned for announcements posted in CANVAS upon registration.
Needless to say, this will be an interesting, challenging, and fluid Fall semester. But we will not only get through it, we will have engaging and productive experiences in our courses and other extra-curricular activities. The Institute hopes to get as many students to benefit from even limited in-person experience as safely possible, while recognizing the different and changing circumstances facing students, faculty, and staff alike. At the Nunn School, we will be as understanding as possible in order to accommodate your concerns. As such, there will be an element of “learning by doing,” so we also ask for your patience, understanding and flexibility as we navigate these dynamic shoals.
In any case, the Nunn School family is looking forward to getting back to business– whatever the “new normal” is for this coming academic year– and hopes that you can find some time for relaxation before the onset of the Fall semester.
Take care, stay healthy, and see you soon!!
Sincerely,
Adam N. Stulberg
Sam Nunn Professor & Chair
Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
Georgia Institute of Technology
