Course of Study School Updates

Last updated on Monday, March 23, 2020

Dear Perkins Course of Study community,

I pray that each of you is well and safe.

I imagine that each of you has experienced disruptions in your daily lives due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The spread of this virus has certainly impacted Perkins Regional Course of Study School (COSS); we have had to adjust our spring courses for our satellite and extension school courses.

I want to share with you actions I have taken as Perkins Regional COSS director to respond to the Coronavirus and then let you know about our plans for this summer’s COSS.

I have closely and regularly monitored reports about the Coronavirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and government reports and news conferences. I spoke with the staff of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) to seek their counsel on contingency plans for summer COSS in case we are unable to host students at Perkins this summer. The GBHEM has provided the regional and extension school directors guidance on contingency plans in a letter. I also spoke with four other regional COSS directors to learn about their plans and receive their advice about plans for this summer’s COSS. I sought the advice of the COSS faculty advisory committee last week. Finally, I held a video conference with the COSS faculty yesterday to discuss the possibility of delivering summer COSS in a completely online format.

We agreed during our COSS faculty meeting that it is too soon to decide whether or not to move to a fully online format for this summer’s Course of Study School. We do not yet know if the spread of the Coronavirus will prevent us from holding this summer’s COSS in the same way as previous years. At the same time, we cannot wait too long to make a decision because faculty need to prepare their courses and students need to make their travel plans with plenty of advance notice. Therefore, I will decide on March 31 whether or not we will hold this summer’s Course of Study School in a hybrid or an online format.

The Perkins COSS instructors are preparing to teach their courses completely online if that becomes necessary. We will provide the instructors with pedagogical and technological support they need to maintain the highest quality of teaching and learning possible. Likewise, we will provide students with the technological support you need to have a successful and meaningful learning experience.

The most important criteria in deciding on the method of delivery for this summer’s Course of Study School is your health and wellbeing. If it appears evident that we can safely provide COSS in our normal hybrid format, we will do that. If it appears evident that there is a strong possibility that students’ health will be impacted by attendance on Perkins’ campus, we will deliver COSS in an online format.

Many questions will arise from the decision to move to an online format. If, and I emphasize, if it appears necessary to provide COSS in an online format, I will provide a FAQ sheet when an announcement is made about this on March 31. I will also offer student video conferences to receive and respond to your questions.

In this period in which our entire world is disordered by this global pandemic, we are called to respond in faith and with compassion. I keep you in my prayers daily and covet your prayers as well. In this way, we manifest ourselves as the Body of Christ.

Peace,

Rev. Paul Barton, Ph.D.
Director, The Hispanic/Latin@ Ministries Program;
Director, Perkins Regional Course of Study School


For additional questions, please contact the Perkins Course of Study office at coss@smu.edu or call 214-768-2265.