Department of Economics COVID-19 Information

Updated 12-1-21

Iowa State University’s top priority continues to be protecting the health and safety of faculty, staff, students, and visitors by reducing the transmission risk associated with COVID-19. At present, Heady Hall is closed and staff is working remotely.

If you need to contact us, call our main office number during summer hours: M-F, 7:30 am-4:00 pm at 515-294-6740. Or send an email to econadmin@iastate.edu and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

If you have found helpful information elsewhere that is not included on this page, please share it with Karen Kovarik (kkovarik@iastate.edu) or Deb Gruca (dgruca@iastate.edu).


New CARD and Department of Economics web resource on COVID-19 pandemic research and resource information for Iowa. Lots of great data and analysis!


For students

Academic advisers and Lydia Richards will be available by email (lrich@iastate.edu) during normal business hours (M-F, 8-5) beginning 3/17/20.

You may also call the main undergrad office phone (515-294-5436) and leave a voicemail. Voicemails will be followed up during normal business hours, with an email or callback as appropriate. The econundergrad@iastate.edu email box will also be monitored and answered.

*Student COVID or COVID-related concerns:

Any student can call ISU student health at 515-294-5801 --24 hours a day-- to speak to a nurse. They are happy to offer advice on self-isolating, symptom management, etc, even if you aren't in Ames. ISU Student health can also do telehealth visits if you want to talk to a provider.

Keep Community, Stay Informed, Be Well

For faculty and staff

SVPP website
Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost Faculty and Staff Resouces

HR resources for supervisors and employees
Resources regarding COVID-19 time off and leave. Any questions can be directed to hr_delivery@iastate.edu.

UHR Service Center

Beginning March 26th, in order to follow the CDC guidelines on social distancing, the Service Center and Benefits office will be open “by appointment only” to campus until further notice. This is an effort to limit the number of people in the office at any given time, therefore reducing the potential spread of COVID-19.  If you have team members that need to meet with either Service Center or Benefit Team staff, please call 294-4800, you can also email hrshelp@iastate.edu or benefits@iastate.edu for assistance.

This will impact any new hire that you may have starting in the near future or any faculty/staff member seeking consultation from a benefits/retirement representative.  Your HRC is available to help you schedule a time for your new hire to complete an I-9 on or before their first scheduled day of employment and/or to talk through any onboarding challenges you may be or anticipate having.


Administrative help

  • Canvas: Please continue to email Lydia Richards (lrich@iastate.edu) clear instructions and corresponding files to post for Canvas, or other platforms that you have worked together on.
  • Curriculum: Please forward email documentation of major and minor curriculum or other changes to Lydia to update internal records. If possible, (I.e. student is not graduating this spring) have students wait until normal operations are resumed.
  • Newsletter items: Send newsletter items as usual to Deb Gruca (dgruca@iastate.edu) by Thursday noon for the department newsletter or to Lydia by Friday at 4:30 for the undergrad newsletter as these will continue to be sent out on Fridays and Mondays.

ISU COVID-19 Information resources

Moving courses online

Guidance for Shifting Classes Online pdf

Chronicle of Higher Education articles:

Canvas  

Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT)

1) Pedagogical Alternatives:  
a. Allow students to take non-proctored Canvas examinations (called quizzes in Canvas) using best practices for maximum security including, question groups, shuffling questions, and time limits.   
b. Consider other methods within Canvas such as homework, quizzes, discussion postings that allow for assessment of the same content. 
2) Technology Alternative: 
 Top Hat allows for student quizzing; best practices should be used for Top Hat quizzing. 
3) Other Alternatives:  
a. If the exam was a paper-based exam, consider making it an open book examination. Students would then need to take a picture or scan the document and submit it as an assignment in Canvas.  
b. Consider delaying the exam and/or including the exam content on a comprehensive final exam.

WebEx

Installing WebEx
All university employees have access to WebEx. It can be accessed through Okta (login.iastate.edu.) You might have to search for the WebEx Premium applet.

Working remotely

Keep Community, Stay Informed, and Be Well
ISU WellBeing is launching this campaign during remote work, online instruction, and social distancing at ISU. Focusing on and prioritizing our wellbeing is essential. This tool is a great resource for Iowa State employees to navigate the many changes to their daily lives due to the COVID-19 global outbreak.

Important Technology Information
Most Iowa State University resources are easily accessible with just an internet connection, but may require some setup. Before you begin working remotely, understand what you will need to do to access ISU technology resources off-campus. Find more information about working securely when at a remote location and get guidance on conducting research during the COVID-19 outbreak.

 

 

 

 

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