From: Office of Student Involvement
Date: March 20, 2020
Subject: Student Organization Guidance: COVID-19
Hey Blue Demons,
We wanted to reach out following the recent news regarding COVID-19 and updates from the University. While DePaul will remain open and instruction will continue through online or other alternatives, OSI wants to encourage you and your student organization to be mindful and informed about how you best support your organizations and officers. Here are some helpful tips:
- Upcoming activities for spring quarter
- Do you have elections? Interviews?
- What meetings and events are coming up for your organizations?
- Communication with your members
- Share the university’s message regarding spring quarter, global travel, university operations to help guide your conversations: go.depaul.edu/covid
- Keep yourself healthy
- Wash your hands often. Wash for 20-30 seconds with warm, soapy water. Sing a verse of your favorite song to help with the washing time.
- News of a widespread public health concern like COVID-19 (Coronavirus) can cause feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. If you would like to be contacted by a counselor, please leave a message with university counseling services: 773-325-7779. More information is available on UCS’s website: https://offices.depaul.edu/student-affairs/about/departments/Pages/ucs.aspx
With such transition, our office understands that this is an overwhelming time for you and thinking through the questions above may not be a top priority. However, no need to worry as OSI has gathered some information for you and your student organization to consider:
- Moving meetings and events to an online or virtual platform to accommodate member
- Zoom: If a DePaul faculty, staff, or student employee invites you or your student organization to an event via Zoom, you can access this meeting via phone or computer. To join the call, first dial the phone number included in the invitation. Once the voice call prompts you, type in the dial in ID#, usually followed by #. To join via computer, click the link included in the meeting invitation. The meeting window should automatically open (Please note that you may need to download “Zoom” onto your computer for this to open).
- Zoom: https://zoom.us/
- If you’d like to host a Zoom meeting, please request by emailing studentorgs@depaul.
- Zoom: https://zoom.us/
- Google Hangouts: Google Hangouts provides both instant messenger and video chat functions for your student organization to have immediate access and contact with one another in a remote fashion. Group chat with up to 150 people or video chat with up to 10 friends. All you need is a google account to get started!
- Google Hangout: https://gsuite.google.com/products/meet/
- UberConference: Set up a free account on UberConference.com and you can set up a virtual conference room for your organization to meet. UberConference offers free web conferencing and online meetings in 45-minute meeting increments for up to 10 users. Using UberConference, you can share screens, video conference, and make voice calls. UberConference can be used to start immediate calls (“Start New Conference” feature) or for scheduled, future meetings (“Schedule for Later” feature).
- UberConference - https://www.uberconference.com/
- Slack: Slack can be viewed as a “chat room” for your organization where you can instant message, share files, and fully collaborate. The free version of Slack includes up to 10,000 chat messages and 1:1 video calls.
- Slack: http://www.slack.com/
- Skype: Skype allows for both video chat and voice calls on a variety of devices (smartphones, computers, tablets, etc.). The Skype app must be downloaded on usable devices before any calls or meetings. Using group video chats, Skype can include up to 50 people.
- Skype: http://www.skype.com
- Zoom: If a DePaul faculty, staff, or student employee invites you or your student organization to an event via Zoom, you can access this meeting via phone or computer. To join the call, first dial the phone number included in the invitation. Once the voice call prompts you, type in the dial in ID#, usually followed by #. To join via computer, click the link included in the meeting invitation. The meeting window should automatically open (Please note that you may need to download “Zoom” onto your computer for this to open).
- Utilizing DeHub features for organization business
- Note: Please note that these guides are available through the OSI DeHub page within the Files section.
- Elections – The elections organization tool can be used to hold online votes for your student organization.
- Creating online elections- https://dehub.campusgroups.com/get_file?eid=2df3a7d518299ac658e7e28ea3fdcbc6
- Messaging – DeHub provides a variety of options for your organization to send messages to members in your group.
- Emailing with a template - https://dehub.campusgroups.com/get_file?eid=8f1d561d05d3343450dc54dcfab04846
- Publishing emails as newsletter on website - https://dehub.campusgroups.com/get_file?eid=8d07791942dcde9b79e993cddcf28ab8
- Consulting with a Student Involvement staff members
- Our staff will be working during normal business hours 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday. We will be available online to have meetings and consultations to determine what additional resources may be available for your organization.
- Reach out to studentorgs@depaul.edu with any questions. This email is monitored Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Additional guidance and resources will be communicated periodically via OSI social media platforms (@dpuinvolvement), newsletters, and DeHub. Make sure to follow us on social media, and check in on DeHub to stay up-to-date.
Please know that OSI is here to support you and your respective organizations. If you have any further questions throughout this time, please email us at studentorgs@depaul.edu