COVID-19 and Remote Delivery

| 30 June 2020

All Master’s level courses in the Department of Public Health Sciences will be offered remotely, i.e. online, in the fall 2020 and winter 2021 terms.

The following frequently asked questions (FAQs) shed more light on what the 2020-2021 academic year will look like for new and returning students. There are five sections:

Remote course delivery
Technology and equipment requirements
Access to student supports
Beyond 2020-2021
Further information on COVID-19

1. Remote course delivery

Will any Master’s level courses in the Department of Public Health Sciences be offered on-campus, face-to-face in the fall 2020 or winter 2021 terms?

No. All Master’s level courses in the Department of Public Health Sciences will be offered remotely, i.e. online. This includes all Public Health Sciences courses required for the Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science (MSc) Field of study Epidemiology, and MSc Specialization Biostatistics programs.

Is there any advantage to me coming to Kingston?

From the perspective of fulfilling academic requirements, there is no advantage to being in Kingston in fall 2020 for Public Health Sciences Master’s students. You will not need to be on campus to complete any Master’s level Public Health Sciences course or program requirement. There will be no formal or required Department led in-person activities or events. However, various departmental and program online events will help us build our sense of community.

Will taking courses remotely put me at an educational disadvantage?

We are committed to providing you with an engaging, high quality learning experience. Remote delivery of courses will be different to what we are all used to, but instructors and staff will engage you in a learning community, you will have meaningful interaction with your peers, and we are dedicated to facilitating a quality learning experience.

Will remote course delivery be synchronous (live, participate in real time) or asynchronous (not live, participate on your own time)?

The teaching methods of each course will be up to individual instructors. You can likely expect a mix of asynchronous (not live, participate on your own time) and synchronous (live, participate in real time) course activities. For example, a course instructor may upload lecture content in a narrated PowerPoint presentation, and create a discussion group in onQ (Queen’s University’s learning management system). Both of these would be asynchronous, and you would participate on your own time. That same course might also have scheduled office hours or tutorials that are synchronous, where you would participate in real time. The mix of these approaches will depend on the course.

How will I contact my professor or teaching assistant (TA)? How will office hours work?

Instructor and TA contact information will be posted for each of your courses in the course page in onQ. You can contact them by email. Individual instructors will decide how they want to handle office hours. For example, some may host office hours by video or live chat.

Will I be able to access library resources?

Yes. Although physical library spaces are currently closed, the Queen’s Library is committed to supporting faculty, students, and staff to access library resources. Online resources (e-journals, e-books, databases, subject guides etc.) continue to be available. Subject librarians are available for online appointments. Curbside pickup is also available, using a request feature in the library’s Omni search tool. Consult the library website for more information on current operations: https://library.queensu.ca/help-services/covid-19-updates-library-services-operations

How will I get the textbooks that I need?

The Campus Bookstore is currently closed to the public. However, the Bookstore continues to process online orders, and ships via FedEx. Curbside pickup is also available for pre-paid orders. The Bookstore is also working with publishers to see what material may be made available electronically. Find more information at the Campus Bookstore website: https://www.campusbookstore.com/welcome

If I am in Kingston, can I access the Carruthers Hall study space or the student lounge?

For now, Carruthers Hall remains closed to students, staff and faculty because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, Public Health Sciences students have access to study space and a student lounge in Carruthers Hall. However, access to Queen’s buildings is currently not permitted except for those faculty and students approved to carry out on-site research through the University’s return to on-campus research application process.

What will courses that are delivered remotely look like on my transcript?

Remotely delivered courses will look the same on your transcript as on-campus, face-to-face courses.

Will tuition costs be reduced for the fall 2020 or winter 2021 terms?

No. Tuition will remain the same. Tuition is reflective of the quality of the degree and associated learning outcomes. Queen’s has invested significant resources to ensure students receive a quality learning experience and the value of a Queen’s degree is not diminished.

2. Technology and equipment requirements

What technology and equipment do I need to fully participate in remote course delivery?

You will need:

Computer with the most up to date version of Windows or Mac OS
Webcam and microphone (built-in or external)
Latest up to date version of Chrome (preferred) or Firefox, Safari or Microsoft Edge browser
Internet connection (5-10 Mbps of download speed)

What technology platform will be used to deliver courses remotely?

Each instructor will choose which technology platform they will use to deliver their course. We anticipate that the two main technology platforms used to deliver courses remotely will be onQ (the Queen’s learning management system) and Office 365, including Microsoft Teams. Both of these platforms are institutionally supported by Queen’s, and free for enrolled students. Some instructors may also use Zoom or other apps that facilitate group learning.

How difficult is it to learn the technology platforms, and is there tech support available?

OnQ is Queen’s University’s enterprise learning management system, built in the Brightspace/D2L environment. Many students are already familiar with D2L from high school or other universities.

Office 365 includes applications you already probably know, like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Office 365 also includes Microsoft Teams, a cloud-based app for collaborative work including chat, video meetings, and file sharing. There will be a learning curve, but both onQ and Microsoft Teams are built to be user-friendly. Tech support, as well as step by step instructions for use are available through Queen’s Information Technology Service (ITS): https://www.queensu.ca/its/getting-started/student.

How will time zone and internet issues be accounted for?

If you anticipate that a time zone difference from Kingston (Eastern Standard Time) or internet instability will impact your studies, please inform your program’s Graduate Assistant as soon as possible.

For MPH, Gerri Lyman, lymang@queensu.ca

For MSc and PhD, Sue Preston, epid@queensu.ca

3. Access to student supports

What if I find I am having a hard time coping with remote learning? What supports are available to me?

We understand that remote delivery of courses is not what you might have hoped for. Nevertheless, we are dedicated to providing you the best possible learning experience and we are committed to supporting you along the way. You will be connected with your colleagues and classmates through group learning activities – and hopefully, you will develop great friendships. Your instructors, academic advisor or supervisor will have time set aside to meet with you virtually. Queen’s student support services will also be available. Find more information about student support services here: https://www.queensu.ca/covidinfo/students

Will I be able to access academic advising?

Yes. Each Public Health Sciences student will be matched with an academic advisor or supervisor. They will contact you early in the term to arrange a virtual introductory meeting.

I am a student with a disability. If I am not on campus, how can I ensure that I receive my necessary accommodations?

Queen's University is committed to supporting students with disabilities as they pursue their academic goals in the current pandemic context. Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) continues to work closely with students and their instructors in meeting current and emerging needs while courses are delivered remotely. Information for new students, including how to register with QSAS, is here: https://www.queensu.ca/studentwellness/accessibility-services

What supports will there be for students for whom English is an additional language (EAL learners)?

Student Academic Success Services (SASS) offers several programs and resources to help students for whom English is an additional language to be successful at university. Students can improve communication and build confidence by working on academic English reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Information on supports for EAL learners is here: https://sass.queensu.ca/eal/

4. Beyond 2020-2021

Will practicum placements for the MPH and MSc Biostatistics programs in spring/summer term 2021 be remote, or in person?

At this time, we do not know. We hope that summer 2021 MPH and MSc Biostatistics practicums will be in person, but we will be taking instruction from government, public health officials and university guidelines. All practicum placements for the MPH and MSc Biostatistics programs in summer 2020 were completed remotely, so if practicums are remote for summer 2021, we will be well prepared.

5. Further information on COVID-19

What is the status of COVID-19 in Kingston?

Our Department has a long term partnership with our local public health agency, KFL&A Public Health. The KFL&A Public Health website is an excellent source for up to date information on COVID-19 in our local area including the status of cases, information on the local testing assessment centre, and strategies for prevention. Access the KFL&A Public Health website at this link: https://www.kflaph.ca/en/healthy-living/novel-coronavirus.aspx

Where can I find general information about COVID-19 and Queen’s University?

The following websites have extensive information about COVID-19 and Queen’s, including practical information for students. We recommend you review these sites carefully.

Queen’s University main COVID-19 page: https://www.queensu.ca/covidinfo/
Faculty of Health Sciences COVID-19 page: https://healthsci.queensu.ca/administration/announcements/coronavirus
School of Graduate Studies (SGS) COVID-19 page: https://www.queensu.ca/sgs/covid-19-sgs-updates.

What if I have other questions about my program?

You may still have questions, and that is ok! Your program’s website is your best starting point. If you have administrative questions about fall 2020 (program requirements, course registration, fees etc.), please contact your program’s Graduate Assistant:

For the MPH program, Gerri Lyman, lymang@queensu.ca

For the MSc and PhD programs, Sue Preston, epid@queensu.ca

If you have other questions about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on courses and program activities, please contact the relevant Program Director:

MPH Program Director: Dr. Erica Weir, weire@queensu.ca

MSc, Field of study Epidemiology, Program Director: Dr. Will King, kingw@queensu.ca

MSc, Specialization Biostatistics, Program Director: Dr. Paul Peng, yingwei.peng@queensu.ca

PhD Program Director: Dr. Colleen Davison, davisonc@queensu.ca