On April 28, 2020, The Rosalind Franklin University Learning Experiences Task Force (LET) was established by the Provost and charged with developing a comprehensive set of Academic and Teaching Guidelines that will contribute to the ongoing development and delivery of high quality educational experiences during the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The LET convened on May 6, 2020 and established the following commitments to designing the Academic Continuity Guidelines with the RFU Community.

• All students will participate in curricula designed to flex around required in-person training, clinical experiences, and assessment.
• The sequence of learning activities across the curriculum will be restructured to be flexible and to maximize preparation for required in-person learning during the academic year.
• Scheduling for in-person learning will be designed to maximize the learning experiences offered each day while still meeting public health and RFU guidelines.
• Priority for the use of RFU spaces is given to knowledge, skills, and practices in programs that require in-person training and assessments.
• All remote education experiences will be designed and supported to meet standards for quality.
• Faculty will have necessary time, support, training, and on-going development to effectively teach and assess in the remote education environment.
• Students will have necessary time, support, training, and ongoing development to learn effectively in the remote education environment.
• Opportunities will be designed by and for students to build relationships and sustain the “community of learners” within their programs.

To meet these commitments, the Learning Experience Task Force has established a set of guidelines to sustain academic continuity while remaining responsive to unpredictable change. These guidelines are revisited continuously, and new and existing processes are shaped by the changing context. The goal is always to create a relatively stable and effective learning environment that is responsive to change, while still honoring the commitments made to sustain academic excellence.