5 January 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Conference @ 1pm, Jan 5th via Zoom
Washtenaw County, MI – Instructors, staff, and students at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor are taking steps to protect themselves and their communities, as Washtenaw County braces itself for the worst COVID-19 surge yet. Despite refusal from the University’s President Mark Schlissel and Provost Susan Collins to declare a temporary period of remote instruction, instructors from all corners of the Ann Arbor campus are temporarily conducting classes online for two weeks. On the heels of a December 30 statement from the Central Student Government imploring University leaders to adopt a two-week period of remote instruction, more than 1300 U-M community members have for instructors and students who choose to “pivot to remote instruction for two weeks to start the Winter term.”
Faculty members and members of the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) have called on all instructors to pivot to remote instruction in order to stave off infections, especially given that local hospitals are at 87% and 99% capacity. The Lecturers’ Employee Organization (LEO) has emphasized instructors’ autonomy to pivot online at their discretion, given students’ travel disruptions and community spread. This pivot to virtual is critical for those with school-age children, as Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) is facing staff shortages due to COVID has delayed in-person instruction until January 10. One rank-and-file LEO member commented: “Many faculty have children at home and cannot come to class in person. We need flexibility to respond to our own difficult circumstances and adapt the class modality as needed. I’m disappointed that UM has not acknowledged this important issue. I have no doubt that we as highly-trained faculty have the ability to offer strong pedagogical courses in whatever modality we find necessary.” During this period of uncertainty, a two-week shift provides pedagogical consistency and ensures equitable access to learning for all students.
Despite the unprecedented growth of the surge and repeated calls from members of the University community, University administrators have dug in their heels about their Winter 2022 reopening plans and are effectively forcing students and instructors into the classroom. Absent University leaders taking the action necessary to keep educators, students, and workers safe, U-M instructors are taking matters into their own hands. Instructors across the University are making choices that best protect themselves, their families, and their students, choices that uplift the possibility of learning in unprecedented and challenging times. As one rank-and-file GEO member put it, “I support the e-Pivot because it’s my duty as a human being to take care of others and as a teacher to keep my students safe.”
A recording of the press conference can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/geo3550/posts/4785982738135542
Press Contact
Name: Dom Bouavichith, Staff Organizer
Email: dom@geo3550.org
Phone: 952.239.154
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