Changes taking place across the entire UTC campus

Classrooms will be empty of students through the end of spring semester in late April.

Not a class has met, but a whole lot of learning has been happening this week at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. And it’s not just students.

While students are being taught how to use computer software needed after all-online courses start on Monday. Faculty is in the same boat.

Between March 12 and March 19, 630 faculty members have taken training sessions from the Grayson H. Walker Center for Teaching and Learning on how to use academic software such as Zoom and Canvas.

Most of the 45 sessions—including evening ones—have been held online, said Dawn Ford, executive director of the center. And quite honestly, she added, remote sessions are probably the best way for faculty to learn.

“They have to be a student themselves, so they definitely have empathy for the regular students,” she said.

Staff at the center have been working 10- to 12-hour days to field calls and emails, offer training sessions and one-on-one consultations with faculty, she said. “Hundreds” of questions are coming in, but there’s no sense of panic, just a desire to be ready when the online classes start, she said.

The Walker Center isn’t the only on-campus department helping to make the transition from classrooms to online. The Information Technology department has been working on a host of issues, too.

Some employees are manning the Help Desk, answering technical questions that come through phone calls and emails. Department leadership is coordinating the purchase of laptops and other equipment needed for students and faculty to work at home.

The department also is making sure the campus itself has the equipment and academic technology it needs such as laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots and software. And like faculty, some IT members are learning how to use academic software through the Walker Center.

Every morning, key people across campus from academics, administration and other key people across campus meet over the computer to discuss where everything stands at that point,

“We meet every morning at 9 a.m. on Zoom. It’s war room basically,” said Cherie Whipple, associate chief information officer in IT.

Surveys are being taken from students, faculty and staff to “learn who needs what and when,” she said.

Tony Parsley, director of Client Services in IT, called it “a process in motion.”

“It’s kind of a work in progress, but it’s very rapid process,” he said.

One of the first steps is to make sure that laptops can be given to students who need them.

“Students are our primary focus and priority,” he said. “If we can get people to come to us if they’re living close by then we can make that exchange sooner than later.”

The department currently has 100 laptops on order but, because almost every university in the country is desperate for laptops for their own online teaching, computer companies are swamped.

Starting Monday, staff in the IT department will be staffing the Help Desk from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday to answer questions. In off-hours, questions will be answered by Ellucian, the company that develops software for higher education.

“Each day as information comes in from students and faculty and staff, we’re gathering that data and making quick decisions,” Parsley said.

“Every hour is a learning experience.”

Kennon Kincaid had to temporarily move out of his residential housing and go back to his home in Maryville, Tenn.

Students had to pack up their belongings and move out of their residential housing until the end of spring semester in April.

International students are allowed to stay in their residential housing units throughout spring semester.

Ryan Martin, front, and Austin Baird work on the IT Help Desk, answering technical questions from students, faculty and staff.

Teaching assistant Allycia Lee conducts an organic chemistry lab lesson as a video is shot of her work. Professors whose classes include labwork must use videotaped online labs through the end of spring semester.

Nursing faculty and staff watch a demonstration of a virtual-reality program that can allow their students to learn remotely.

While being videotaped, Timothy Gaudin gives a zoology lecture to an empty classroom as he prepares for online teaching.

Some faculty are taking online tutorials so they can learn how to teach students in an online setting.

The dining area in the University Center is now closed.

Aramark’s Shelle Ware serves food from a shortened hot-food menu in the University Center.

Signs about food safety have been placed around the Food Court in the University Center.

Personal reusable cups are temporarily not allowed in the University Center’s Food Court.

Carole Geter cleans in Founders Hall. Aggressive steps are being taken to make sure the UTC campus is clean and disinfected.

A surgical mask lies on the ground on the UTC campus.