Illinois State University is entering a new and unprecedented era in its history due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Extraordinary measures, including a move away from face-to-face teaching, have been taken for the safety of the campus community.
“We know this will be a challenging and stressful situation in the weeks and months to come,” said President Larry Dietz. “Despite the disruption to everyday life, all our faculty and staff at Illinois State remain committed to helping our students successfully complete this semester and their college education.”
The move to alternative delivery of classes is daunting for students, faculty, and staff. Having to make this wholesale transition on short notice during a time of global uncertainty adds to the stress.
“This is also a significant change for parents and families, and you may feel lost on how best to support your student,” said President Dietz. “Please encourage them to take advantage of resources we have available, to reach out to their faculty if they have questions or are struggling, to stay in touch with classmates, and to stay positive as they make their way through what may seem like a brand-new semester.”
The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology (CTLT) has online resources to provide an overview of teaching and learning technology and to answer questions that students, faculty, and staff may have during this time.
- Redbirds Keep Teaching provides resources for faculty and staff
- Redbirds Keep Learning provides resources for students
The Technology Support Center also has information on internet connectivity, VPN, Zoom web conferencing, ReggieNet, Office 365, and other technology resources.
Students needing technology to fully take part in online classes can contact the Technology Support Center at ITHelp.IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-4357.
Although physical access to campus facilities is limited at this time, services for students are online and just an email, chat, or phone call away.
“Rest assured the University has committed a great amount of time, talent, and technology to support the move to online and alternative class delivery,” said Provost Jan Murphy. “Our dedicated faculty and staff will teach and support our students throughout this process.”
Please visit Illinoisstate.edu/coronavirus for up-to-date information about Illinois State’s response to COVID-19. The site contains a Frequently Asked Questions section. Questions can also be sent to coronavirus@ilstu.edu.
