黑料社

Karl Minges, Ph.D., and Michael Urban, Ph.D. spent a recent Tuesday afternoon outside enjoying the sunshine with their three children 鈥� while simultaneously connecting with their colleagues in the University of New Haven鈥檚 School of Health Sciences. Faculty and staff members greeted them and their family, 鈥渕eeting鈥� their new baby through Zoom.

The meeting was one of the School of Health Sciences鈥檚 weekly 鈥淭uesday Touch Base鈥� sessions 鈥� virtual meetings that enable faculty and staff members to stay connected virtually. They discussed their families and how they were teaching and engaging with students online.

鈥淢y students write journal entries about what they鈥檙e learning,鈥� said Michele Smallidge, Ed.D., RD, a lecturer in the University鈥檚 Allied Health Department who introduced her colleagues to her goats, who were feeling a bit camera shy. 鈥淭hey say they can鈥檛 wait for us to return to the University.鈥�

Faculty members have made it a commitment to stay connected with their students who are learning remotely this semester amid the global coronavirus pandemic. In addition to connecting with each other virtually using platforms such as Zoom, faculty members are holding 鈥渧irtual office hours鈥� during which they can interact with students. The 鈥淭uesday Touch Base鈥� meetings provide an opportunity for them to discuss how their online teaching and community-building endeavors are going.

鈥淒uring my advising appointments with students, they have told me the transition to remote learning has gone well,鈥� said Samantha Morales 鈥�18 MHA, assistant director of the University鈥檚 Master of Healthcare Administration program and the School of Health Sciences internship coordinator.

During a recent online discussion, faculty members discussed how they are navigating virtual labs for students this semester, as well as high enrollment and interest in Summer Session courses. They also shared what they have been working on remotely, such as the virtual presentation led by Jess Holzer, Ph.D. during which she discussed cultural differences in healthcare.

The virtual meetings aren鈥檛 all work and no play. Faculty and staff members caught up, shared laughs, and explored different backgrounds available on Zoom, including a forest, aurora borealis, and photos of the University of New Haven campus. They also showed off their bandanas 鈥� the theme of this particular meeting. Alvin Tran, Ph.D., who spoke in front of a Parisian background, shared a funny video of his parents making their own face masks.

Summer McGee, Ph.D., dean of the University鈥檚 School of Health Sciences whose expertise has been quoted extensively in the media throughout the pandemic, says these meetings 鈥� and virtual office hours 鈥� are crucial.

鈥淗uman connection, even when it is virtual, is more important than ever,鈥� said McGee, who chose the University鈥檚 new bronze Charger statue commemorating its Centennial as her background. 鈥淲e sometimes take for granted how much we need and value our relationships with our co-workers and our students 鈥� until we don鈥檛 have them any longer. It is vital to maintain these connections online to stay in touch with our humanity, to prevent isolation, and to stay positive.鈥�

Help University of New Haven Students Charge Ahead

We've launched the Charge Ahead Student Support Fund in an effort to raise financial assistance for our students for such necessities as remote learning technology, food, housing, medical expenses, and other emergency needs. Please to make a contribution that will assist those in our University community who need our support.