HOUSTON – As COVID-19 forces organizations to pivot, Lone Star College-University Park has met the challenge in stride with student success at the forefront. The college has developed a range of resources responsive to the needs of students, faculty and staff as they work remotely. From online seminars to live open forums, all resources ensure employees are taking care of themselves, have the knowledge they require to move to an online format for the foreseeable future and, in turn, are better able to continue providing students with an academically and socially rich experience despite the circumstances.

“LSC-University Park has been able to navigate the continuously evolving COVID-19 situation because our dedicated faculty, staff and administration have a shared guiding principle: student success,” said Dr. Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park president. “Our students put their trust in our college to help them meet their individual goals; we take that to heart and continue to create the best academic and experiential education. To do that, preparing and nurturing our team is key. I am proud of the quick-thinking and resolve our LSC-University Park team has shown as we move toward a common goal amid the rapid changes we have all faced in March and the unknowns that lay before us. Based on the leadership of our chancellor, Dr. Steven Head, and continuous support of our Board of Trustees, Lone Star College will come out of this unprecedented crisis stronger than ever.”

In preparation for classes moving to an online format across Lone Star College, the LSC-University Park Office of Professional Development worked with administration, faculty and staff to build live training sessions hosted through Cisco WebEx. These interactive sessions help faculty and staff steer through the transition and guide students.

“I appreciate all these learning opportunities for faculty and staff,” said Julie Ponthier, a biology adjunct faculty at LSC-University Park. “I started last week feeling overwhelmed, but have ‘attended’ many sessions so far. They were all so well done, and I am feeling pretty good about moving to an online format now.”

Topics have included accessibility and accommodations in online classes, multiple primer sessions for the college’s learning management system D2L, social support, sharing of resources and setting up a healthy workspace. In the first week, the college hosted more than ten sessions attended by over 600 participants. A professional development resource page was launched and has already had over 1,900 visits.

“LSC-University Park has taken a solution-oriented approach as we develop and deliver innovative professional development opportunities to our faculty and staff,” said Colby Lasyone, director of professional development. “The Office of Professional Development is committed to responding to the needs of the entire LSC-University Park faculty, staff and administrators as we remain focused on our students and their success during this trying time.” 

The college also made transparency a priority in an uncertain global environment. Dr. Ardalan and the LSC-University Park executive team led two WebEx open forums to share information with faculty and staff and provide the opportunity for questions and feedback. More than 300 employees attended.

“Our success as a college is pronounced because of the regard afforded by our administration at LSC-University Park,” said Dave Gaer, faculty senate president. “As the connection between faculty and administration, I have been included in key conversations, and our faculty have been informed and equipped to make relevant and sound decisions about how to move forward. We have come together as a family and quickly mobilized to help each other transition to online learning.”

LSC-University Park administrators, faculty and staff are working to increase mental health awareness. By treating employees and students with compassion and concern daily, LSC-University Park is furthering the goal of enabling each student to be academically and professionally successful. Understanding that academic success is grown from strong roots of mental health and a solid base of support is necessary for helping students succeed and eventually graduate from LSC-University Park.

On Feb. 28 and March 4, just before the college’s spring break, LSC-University Park facilitated two events addressing student mental health and suicide prevention. Through the workshops, employees, students and community members learned different ways to spot signs of deteriorating mental health and how they can help those suffering to get support.

The college plans to provide further training on the subject through online modes, including a panel discussion on the psychological and sociological impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on faculty, staff and students, and strategies for managing stress. As well, meditation sessions are led by faculty via WebEx every morning.