Faculty Toolkit

Prepare Your Academic Continuity Plan

Unexpected emergencies and disruptions can drastically alter original course plans and impact teaching and learning for students and faculty. The following recommendations outline how you can prepare in advance to minimize interruptions, allowing faculty to: 

  • Pivot instruction more efficiently, preserving valuable time for personal safety and preparedness.
  • Reduce confusion by relying on centralized, consistent messaging and resources.
  • Maintain academic integrity and continuity through clear communication and flexible instructional strategies.

Before the Semester Begins

  • Develop a module, assignment, and announcement within Canvas that easily be deployed if university operations are disrupted.
    • 鈥淔aculty to Student Canvas Message Templates鈥 are available here:
  • Review the Academic Continuity Core Syllabus Statement within Simple Syllabus
  • Determine and draft, in detail, how you will communicate with your students, adjust assignments (as needed), facilitate lectures, and more.
    • For a comprehensive six step list of these items, visit our Leverage Canvas page to develop your plan.
    • Don鈥檛 forget, Digital Learning is here to assist with any Canvas and/or Teams question. Simply email facultysupport@usf.edu.
  • Review the academic continuity reference guide for additional considerations around various disruption levels.
  • Discuss your plan with your department chair and colleagues to get their input and feedback.