[BusinessGrad] BSOB Update from the Dean's Office

[Carson, Chad]

Brock School of Business Students,

I’m writing this email from Cooney Hall – where a month from tomorrow, on August 24th,  we will start the 2020-21 academic year.  We are so ready to have you back in Cooney Hall and in our classes!

I know that you have received many messages over the summer about what has been happening on campus in preparation for the Fall.  Your faculty have been hard at work preparing for your return as well.  Our classes will predominately be face to face.  However, due to CDC guidelines and our limited classroom space, many classes will adopt a hybrid model where students will be in class one day and participate virtually on the following class day.  In limited cases, some classes have been moved fully online to accommodate faculty health issues or for other pedagogical or logistical reasons.

Your faculty should be emailing you in the coming week with specifics about your classes within the BSOB.  Please email your faculty member if you have additional questions after next week.


Prior to the start of the semester please ensure that you have or have access to appropriate computing resources to complete the semester.



The following language and links will be included in syllabi this semester:



Student Technology Requirements: Students will maintain sufficient computing resources with a web-browser sufficient for course requirements. At a minimum, students should have computer resources sufficient for requirements for Canvas Conferences<https://support.blindsidenetworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025284251-What-are-the-minimum-requirements-for-BigBlueButton-> and Office 365<https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/which-browsers-work-with-office-for-the-web-ad1303e0-a318-47aa-b409-d3a5eb44e452>. Resource requirements can be found at these hyperlinks. Students should also maintain a webcam (for testing) and computer resources sufficient for Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitoring<https://web.respondus.com/he/lockdownbrowser/resources/> for exams. A headset with designated microphone (such as Air pods or equivalent) are highly recommended.



As a reminder, the University has adjusted the academic calendar.  Please plan accordingly – Classes start on August 24th (same as prior schedule).  We WILL have classes on Labor Day (Sept 7) and we will NOT observe a Fall Break.  November 23 and 24 are mandatory class days – you are likely to have final exams, presentations, or other important assignments due on those dates.  I strongly encourage you NOT to plan any travel for those dates as faculty will be utilizing them for crucial end of semester activities.



You should have received a message this week that Family Weekend has been cancelled.  This also means that our Rite of Passage ceremony is, unfortunately, cancelled.  In fact, we have cancelled all BSOB events that were scheduled to have 50 or more attendees.  Many of those events, and others of smaller sizes, will be held virtually.


For safety purposes, advising for JanTerm, Spring, and Summer will be done virtually.

I do hope that your last month away from campus is a productive, safe, and exciting time for each of you.  The faculty and staff of the Brock School are praying for you and for the upcoming fall semester.  I look forward to seeing you all very soon!

Dean Carson

Charles M. (Chad) Carson, Ph.D.
Interim Dean
Brock Family Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship
Professor of Management
 205-726-2364<tel:205-726-2547> | office
cmcarson at samford.edu<mailto:cmcarson at samford.edu>
www.samford.edu/business<http://www.samford.edu/business>
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL 35229<http://maps.google.com/maps?q=800+Lakeshore+Drive,+Birmingham,+AL+35229,+US>

[Samford Brock School of Business Logo]





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