On Mon, Jul 27, 2020 at 7:15 PM Ira I. Katznelson wrote: Dear Jim, If, as you not unreasonably suggest, we lack hard and fast information about which mode of teaching works best in current circumstances, surely that is reason to mount at least roughly equivalent numbers of courses in each manner. Moreover, as we may not be able to restore instruction to the old normal by spring, we should want to learn which types of teaching work best in these circumstances. Instead, we now have nearly zero who will be teaching in a face to face//hybrid mode. This tilt, stronger than anywhere else, seems to have been influenced by the Committee on the Core decision some weeks back and by your judgment that this is the better way to go. On the student side, we know that every expression of opinion here and at other universities indicates a strong preference to avoid an all-virtual education. In this light, it does not seem reasonable to bring first and second year students into residence only to give them no chance to pursue their preference. A key reason registration has been delayed is to present colleagues with the chance to revisit and rethink in light of the robust measures being taken on behalf of campus safety and the sense articulated by Costis at the Council of Deans about our social compact with students and the character of the collective good. We all agree to respect the choices faculty will make. That does not preclude utilizing the time we now have to inform colleagues in detail about campus conditions or offer reasons and state perspectives that would help bring about a more appealing balance of modes of instruction. I very much hope you will suspend a sufficient measure of your disbelief to assist this process, or at least not impede it. My best, Ira Ira Katznelson Interim Provost Ruggles Professor of Political Science and Histor