Alert Information
Updates from the College of Education regarding COVID-19
Coronavirus updates from the University of North Texas
Official message from University of North Texas President Neal Smatresk
Student Advising
March 18, 2020
We’re still here, and ready to work with you.
While everything around us seems to change from one day to the next, we hope that we can provide some consistency through offering all the same services as we did prior to living under COVID-19 restrictions. The only difference is our method of our operation — now digital.
Just as before, you may schedule an appointment through Appointment Manager. The appointments are hosted through Zoom, which allows for both phone calls and video conferencing. You may have experience with Zoom as many of our courses through Canvas utilize the Zoom application, but for more assistance the UNT Zoom webpage has tutorials and information.
If there is someone in the Student Advising Office you would like to email, all staff (most with a picture) and email addresses are near the bottom of the Student Advising. We are here to help you. We understand that many people are experiencing new difficulties and challenges with the transition to online courses, remote functioning, and living in isolation. Please let us know how we can help you academically and personally.
Here are a few additional resources you may find helpful:
Canvas Basics for UNT Students
Using Zoom within Canvas for UNT Students
Student Advising
March 18, 2020
College of Education students can schedule a remote advising appointment using Appointment Manager. An advisor will respond with a Zoom appointment the day before the scheduled appointment. Students will need to check their UNT email and, at the time of the appointment, click the link or call the number provided.
TExES Success Update
June 24, 2020
As the university begins to implement its plan to reopen safely, the TExES Success Office will be following recommended safety guidelines for all practice exams and in-office advising.
- It is advisable that you call or email before visiting the office to schedule an appointment and reduce wait times.
- Practice exams will resume as soon as rooms can be reserved, and will have limited capacity. We are exploring alternative options at this time to ensure students have every available resource to prepare for their certification exams.
- We will resume book rentals as soon as the office reopens. Please email COE-TSO@unt.edu if you are interested in checking out a book and office personnel will schedule a time for you to check out the book. Only one book may be checked out at a time for 30 days.
- Testing centers for the actual exams are resuming operations with limited capacity. Students who are ready to test can schedule their appointment at http://tx.nesinc.com.
- Online resources are available from the following sources:
- Pearson (http://tx.nesinc.com) – Download the Preparation Manual for your exams free of charge for an overview of the exam and to review sample questions. You can also find additional study resources and tips under their Prepare tab.
- 240 Tutoring (http://www.240Tutoring.com) – Email COE-TSO@unt.edu for an invite to receive a discount on the monthly subscription price for study guides and practice exams. Students will pay $20/month instead of full price.
- Certify Teacher (https://www.certifyteacher.com) – Sign up with your UNT email and use the promo code UNT4728 to receive a discount on study guides and practice exams.
- Study.com (http://www.study.com) – Use the promo code untfutureteachers78888 on the Teacher’s Edition/Teacher’s Plan to receive a 62% discount on the monthly subscription price.
Teacher Education Program
April 9, 2020
In support of students seeking admission to the UNT Teacher Education Program, all applicants applying during the Summer 2020, Fall 2020, or Spring 2021 semester will have a GPA requirement of 2.5 or higher. All other program requirements must be met to be admitted. Beginning Summer 2021, the minimum GPA will revert to 2.75.
Fall 2020 Clinical Practice FAQ
July 20, 2020
For Professional Development Sequence 2 (PDS 2), All Clinical Teachers, and Practicum Students
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When is Clinical Teacher Orientation?
Clinical Teacher Orientation has been rescheduled from Aug. 6 to Aug. 13. We know from our district partners that most districts have delayed the opening of school to Aug. 17 or later. This will allow us to have the most current information for you from each district.
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Is Clinical Teacher Orientation at UNT?
No. All EPO Opening Meetings will be virtual and conducted using Zoom. You will receive an invitation from the UNT EPO this week asking you to register for the meeting. All UNT students have a UNT Zoom account, so please use your UNT email to complete the registration, as this will keep you from having to create a separate Zoom account. You must register to attend and attendance is mandatory.
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When will I meet with my UNT Field Supervisor and find out more about what is expected during clinical teaching?
At Clinical Teacher Orientation on Aug. 13. We will begin with a general information session and orientation. Afterwards, we will move you into virtual breakout groups to meet with your field supervisor.
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UNT is moving to remote instruction after Thanksgiving Break. Does that mean that my clinical teaching is over after Thanksgiving Break?
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) certification rules require 14 weeks of clinical teaching. To ensure you can complete this requirement, Clinical Teachers follow the calendar of their placement district, not the UNT calendar, during their final semester. Clinical teachers observe the same holiday schedule as their placement district. However instruction is occurring on your placement campus, you will need to complete your 14 weeks if you plan to apply for your teaching certificate.
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What is my first day of clinical teaching?
This will depend on individual district start dates. We do not know yet what date each partner district will have K-12 students begin school, but your first day of clinical teaching will be at the latest, that same date. Some districts may invite clinical teachers to attend professional development days prior to students’ first day; but some may not. When each district responds to our survey, we will share that information with you.
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Can I still clinical teach if districts decide to do only remote or virtual instruction?
As the work of a teacher changes in any society, so does teacher preparation and the clinical teaching experience. We are asking districts that commit to hosting clinical teachers to ensure you are as engaged in instruction in the same instructional delivery methods as your cooperating teacher. Districts are attempting to develop instructional delivery plans that accommodate face to face, virtual synchronous, and virtual asynchronous environments. You will follow the district’s and your cooperating teacher’s plan.
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How will my field supervisor complete evaluations if I am teaching in a virtual/remote setting and not in the physical classroom?
Under normal TEA certification requirements, the minimum number of formal T-TESS evaluations for each clinical teacher is three (3). It is possible to complete T-TESS evaluations in both face to face and virtual instruction settings. In our survey, we asked our partner districts to specify how virtual evaluations can be completed. Once we have that information, we will share it with you.
For Professional Development Sequence 1 (PDS 1) and All Students Completing Field Observation/Experiences in Fall 2020
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Is my placement district allowing field observation/experience to take place in their district?
We do not know the answer to this yet. When we get the results of our survey, we hope to know more and will share that information with you.
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If my placement district does not allow field observation/experiences in Fall 2020, will I still be able to meet the TEA early field experience requirements required for certification?
A waiver signed by Governor Abbott in Spring 2020 that is still in effect allows ALL early field experience hours to be completed through electronic means. The UNT College of Education is again contracting with The Teaching Channel to provide you a free subscription to a wide variety of videos reflecting classroom instruction across grade levels and subject areas. We are also exploring the National Board Certified Teachers ATLAS video archive to supplement The Teaching Channel. This will ensure that you will be able to complete at least the minimum 30 hours required by TEA. If field observation students are not allowed on physical campuses, we are asking districts to allow either synchronous streaming video and/or asynchronous recording of actual instruction. We are also exploring whether districts will allow candidates to observe in virtual/remote instructional contexts.
PDS 1 Student
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When is the PDS 1 Expectations meeting?
The PDS 1 Expectations Meeting has been scheduled from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 20. This will allow us to have the most current information for you from each district.
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Will the PDS 1 Expectations Meeting be at UNT?
All EPO Opening Meetings will be virtual and conducted using Zoom. You will soon receive an invitation from the UNT EPO asking you to register for the meeting. All UNT students have a UNT Zoom account, so please use your UNT email to complete the registration, as this will keep you from having to create a separate Zoom account. You must register to attend and attendance is mandatory.
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In a normal semester, PDS 1 students are required to be in their placement school two (2) full days a week. If my placement campus remains physically closed, should I still plan to keep those two days available for school observation and experiences?
For the moment, Yes. Our goal is to provide you with the richest possible preparation for your teaching career. There will be many ways in which you can work with and support your cooperating teacher and students, even in a virtual/remote instructional context. Once we hear back from each district partner as to what they will allow, we will be able answer this question.
For Everyone
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What steps are UNT and my placement district taking to ensure that teacher candidates who are participating in either field observations or clinical teaching observing are properly shielded from COVID-19?
UNT has no authority over school district decisions about safety protocols or health policies. To get the most accurate information for your placement district, please visit the district website. Please remember that district administration relies on information from their county health department to inform their decisions. As COVID-19 statistics are changing daily, it is a good idea to recheck district websites regularly for the most current information on health and safety procedures.
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What if my placement district opens its physical campus, but I do not feel it is a good choice for me to be present in my school?
Ultimately, the decision whether or not to be on your physical campus is yours. We know this may not be an easy decision to make for some. As districts finalize their reopening plans and you have more information on which to base your personal decision, we are here to help you think through what is best for you. It is within UNT’s control to allow you to take a semester off and return to do your clinical teaching in Spring 2021 if you decide that is the best choice for you.
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Why can’t UNT reduce the number of required days and weeks for observation and clinical teaching?
The granting of a teaching certificate is a function of the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) and the TEA. UNT has no control over the field experience or clinical teaching requirements established by the SBEC. Changes to state certification requirements can be made through waivers signed by Governor Abbott (like those he approved in Spring 2020 which decreased the required number of days for clinical teachers and reduced the total required hours for field observation). At this time, no such waivers are in place.
Field Experience and Clinical Practice FAQ
March 20, 2020
Clinical teacher, PDS 2 student or a practicum student
Practicum students are post-bacc students with a TEA-issued Intern certificate
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Has the Texas Education Agency (TEA) further reduced the required clinical teaching field time minimums beyond the initial 20 percent reduction?
Yes. In accordance with Governor Abbott’s waiver, the new requirements for the duration of clinical practice are as follows:
For Clinical (Student) Teaching
Candidates completing clinical teaching during Spring 2020 must have successfully completed at least half of the originally required 70 days of clinical teaching. The previous requirement of 56 days (made after the 20% reduction) is now 35 days total.
To be recommended for a standard teaching certificate, candidates must also successfully meet these criteria:
- Demonstrated proficiency in each of the educator standards for their assignments (to be determined by the preparation program), and
- Received a recommendation from their field supervisor and one cooperating teacher that the candidate should be recommended for a standard certificate.
For Practicum candidates seeking initial teacher certification:
Candidates engaging in a practicum during Spring 2020 must have successfully completed at least half of the originally required 160 hours of practicum. The previous requirement of 128 hours (made after the 20% reduction) is now 80 hours total.
To be recommended for a certificate, candidates must also successfully meet these criteria:
- Demonstrated proficiency in each of the educator standards for their assignments (to be determined by the preparation program), and
- Received a recommendation from their field supervisor and site supervisor that the candidate should be recommended for a standard certificate.
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I have not yet met the 35 day requirement, what can I do to continue earning hours toward the 35-day requirement?
In accordance with Gov. Abbott’s waiver, the requirements for candidates’ clinical teaching experiences to be completed in an actual school setting are also waived. This means that you may complete any additional requirement by continuing to support your cooperating teacher;
OR
If you are not able to work with your cooperating teacher, you may earn hours based on alternative arrangements established by UNT, such as but not limited to simulated, remote, virtual, or video classroom experiences and reflection. -
What alternative arrangements has UNT established for me to complete my required 35 days?
Arrangements may vary by certification field. Contact your cadre coordinator (PDS 2 students only), or field supervisor (all candidates) for more information.
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I have already completed the required 35 days, should I continue to fill in my Time Log?
No. Upload your time log to Foliotek as soon as possible (Read No. 5 BEFORE you upload your Time Log!)
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My mentor/cooperating teacher can’t sign my Time Log remotely. What do I do?
First, it is very important that you check your Time Log carefully to ensure it is completely accurate. Second, sign your name at the bottom of each page of your Time Log. Your signature is your verification that every entry is valid and reflects your actual experiences. Third, upload your Time Log to Foliotek without any additional signatures from your cooperating teacher.
UNT will then send your Time Log to your cooperating teacher to be reviewed and signed.
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Do I need to keep doing my Collaborative Progress Logs (CPLs)?
No. You will be responsible for submitting the required number of CPLs that were to be completed up to March 6, 2020. You should upload those into Foliotek right away.
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What about the required T-TESS formal evaluations I need to be recommended for certification? I was unable to have the 3 required T-TESS formal evaluations completed before my campus closed. How many will I need to be recommended for my teaching certificate?
In accordance with Governor Abbott’s waiver, you are required to upload only the T-TESS observations completed by your field supervisor up to the beginning of your district’s originally scheduled Spring Break. You must have at least one T-TESS.
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Once I have completed my 35 days, do I need to do anything else to be recommended for certification? Do I need to do anything else to graduate?
Yes. The 35 days, the T-TESS evaluations, the recommendation from your field supervisor and the recommendation from your cooperating teacher that UNT should recommend you for a teaching certificate are Texas Education Agency requirements. TEA requirements are only a part of your UNT degree plan and preparation for becoming a teacher.
- To be recommended for a certificate and to graduate, candidates must also successfully demonstrate proficiency in each of the educator standards for their assignments (to be determined by the preparation program. You must also participate in any meetings required by your Cadre Coordinator and/or Field Supervisor.
- Because of the COVID-19 crisis and the subsequent closure of placement campuses, UNT must continue your preparation in alternate ways to ensure, to the best of our ability, that you are prepared for your first classroom as a professional educator.
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How will I know what I need to do to continue my preparation and successfully demonstrate proficiency in each of the educator standards in order to be recommended for certification and to complete my program and graduate?
Beginning the week of March 30, log into Canvas. Click on the link to your 2nd student teaching course. Your faculty and instructors will guide you from there. All experiences will be evaluated “Pass” or “No Pass”, just like your clinical teaching.
PDS 1 student
EC-6 or 4th-8th ELAR/Social Studies
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Do I still need to try and add hours to my Time Log?
No. However many hours you completed by March 6, 2020 are enough to fulfill your field experience requirement for the Spring 2020 semester.
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Do I need to keep doing my Collaborative Progress Logs (CPLs)?
No. You will be responsible for submitting the required number of CPLs that were to be completed up to March 6th, 2020. You should upload those into Foliotek right away.
PDS 1 student
TEA-required Early Field Experience hours as part of a UNT course
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I haven't completed the required hours yet. Will that affect my grade in my course?
No. Students’ course grades will not be penalized if they are unable to complete required hours because of district or state mandates that prevented them from reporting to a campus. However, if the EFE hours associated with your course are TEA-required you will have to complete them to be recommended for certification.
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How do I know if these EFE hour requirements are TEA-required or not?
Consult your course instructor.
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If the EFE requirements are TEA-required, how many hours do I need to fulfill the TEA requirement?
The Texas Education Agency minimum requirement for EFE is still 30 hours. If you had logged at least 30 hours by the time you were no longer allowed access to your campus, you do not need to log any additional hours to satisfy the TEA requirement. You will still need to submit your Time Log to Foliotek.
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I was unable to log at least 30 hours before my campus closed. What do I do?
In accordance with Governor Abbott’s waiver, all 30 required early field experience hours can now be completed by video or other electronic means for Spring 2020. All face to face EFE hour requirements have been waived. Consult your course instructor about how to complete EFE hours via video or electronic means.
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I have course assignments for a grade that require me to interact with EC-12 students. Will I still be required to complete those assignments?
Consult your course instructor.
Pursuing an advanced professional certificate
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Has the Texas Education Agency further reduced the required advanced certificate field time minimums beyond the initial 20 percent reduction?
Yes. In accordance with Gov, Abbott’s waiver, the new requirements for the duration of clinical practice are as follows:
For Practicum candidates seeking an advanced certificate:
Candidates engaging in a practicum during Spring 2020 must have successfully completed at least half of the originally required 160 hours of practicum. The previous requirement of 128 hours (made after the 20% reduction) is now 80 hours total.
To be recommended for a certificate, candidates must also successfully meet these criteria:
- Demonstrated proficiency in each of the educator standards for their assignments (to be determined by the preparation program), and
- Received a recommendation from their field supervisor and site supervisor that the candidate should be recommended for a standard certificate.
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What about the required formal observations I need to be recommended for certification? How many will I need to be recommended for my advanced certificate? How many will I need to be recommended for my advanced certificate?
In accordance with Gov. Abbott’s waiver, you are required to upload only the formal observations completed by your site supervisor up to the week of your district’s originally scheduled Spring Break. You must have at least one formal observation.
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I have not yet met the 80 hour requirement, what can I do to continue earning hours toward the 80 day requirement?
In accordance with Gov. Abbott’s waiver, the requirement for advanced candidates’ practicum clinical experiences to be completed in an actual school setting is also waived. This means that you may complete any additional requirement by continuing to support your campus mentor
OR
If you are not able to work with your campus mentor, you may earn hours based on alternative arrangements established by UNT, such as but not limited to simulated, remote, virtual, or video classroom experiences and reflection. -
What alternative arrangements has UNT established for me to complete my required 80 hours?
Arrangements may vary by certification program. Contact your program coordinator.
For Everyone
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I would still like to support my placement students, faculty and campus. Can I do that if I want to?
If you choose to. However, you would be participating on a volunteer basis and not as a UNT student. You do not need to log any volunteer hours you complete on your Time Log.
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I haven’t passed my required certification exams yet and all the testing centers are closed because of the COVID-19 situation. What do I do?
TEA is aware that programs and candidates have many questions and concerns regarding educator testing and certification requirements and timelines. At this time, they have no guidance for educator preparation programs. As soon as accurate and official information is available, we will share that with you.
How to continue the work of a teacher and earn hours for time log during the COVID-19 crisis?
UNT Clinical Teachers can and should log participation in any of the work of a teacher listed below in their time logs. Share this list with your mentor/cooperating teacher.
- BEFORE: Help Prepare for instructional delivery
- Support cooperating teachers by finding resources, designing activities, lesson ideas to create virtual curriculum, generate practice for lessons.
- Record brief lectures/presentations on a topic related to your mentor’s lesson plans
- Use Google docs to collaborate with older students on essays and writing assignments,
- Create quizzes, formative assessments, tests for lessons
- Create assignments and activities to support lessons
- Create daily video (or written) “brain break,” “daily challenge,” &/or “Welcome to the Day,” Morning Meeting activities and engagements
- Record video read-alouds of picture books, children’s literature selections, poems. These can be for enjoyment only, or for instructional purposes
- Research and locate online apps that can be used for your mentor’s instruction. Things like Flipgrid, Padlet, Schoolology, etc.
- DURING: Support During Instruction
Ways to co-teach using breakout groups or chat rooms in Google Classroom, Zoom, Go to Meeting or any interactive online platform or app approved by your district- Teach minilessons in a separate online group or chatroomLead synchronous online “brain break”, “daily challenge”, &/or “Welcome to the Day”, Morning Meeting activities and engagements
- Provide tutoring/hold tutorials one on one with a student or small group
- Hold small group “advisory sessions” throughout the day to allow learners a chance to talk about, draw about what they are feeling, concerned about, positive things they have seen happening, ways to encourage themselves and others, etc.
- Assist with a virtual field trip
- Assist with a virtual book club
- AFTER: after instruction
- Analyze quiz or test results to assess learners’ needs for reteaching; plan follow up lessons for learners needing more instruction; if your class online platform has virtual breakout rooms, teach the lesson to a small group
- Grade learners’ work.
- Give feedback in Word using the “Review/mark-up, comments” function.
- Assist with a homework hotline/office hours for students
- Collaborate on daily planning for the next day
- Non-instructional ways to participate in the work of a teacher
Collaborate with your campus team, faculty, and/or cooperating teachers via Zoom or some other video conference platform.- Assist with individual student check-in online
- Attend online planning meetings
- Attend online faculty/team meetings
- You can also do this via email, Microsoft Teams chat, Facetime, and phone calls.
- Non-electronic ways to do the work of a teacher
- Help children without technology resources by distributing hard copy lessons and packets
- Distribute daily meals with district staff.
- Document time you spend learning new eLearning platforms
Computer Lab
COE Student Computer Lab is offering online technical support for students during the COVID-19 situation.
We have setup a Zoom meeting (Meeting ID: 940 565 4379) that will be accessible to students 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday
To access the meeting:
- Sign in to Zoom and sign in or download the client
- Join the meeting by entering in meeting id:940 565 4379
Access College of Education Student Computer Lab Virtually
To see Matthews 309 or PEB 220 labs specifically download the Desktop Client
Downloading Client
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Visit https://view.euc.untsystem.edu/ in your choice of web browser.
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Click the left icon labeled “Install VMware Horizon Client.”
Click Here
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Download client software.
Windows users
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Click “Go to Downloads” link next to “VMware Horizon Client for Windows”
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Choose client version. The most recent version is selected by default.
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Click “Download” button in bottom right to begin installation.
MacOS users
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Click “Go to Downloads” link next to “VMware Horizon Client for Mac”
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Choose client version. The most recent version is selected by default.
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Click “Download” button in bottom right to begin installation.
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Accessing Lab Computer
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Open the Start Menu and click on VMware Horizon Client.
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Open the Horizon Client, Click Add Server
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When prompted for a Connection Server, enter https://view.euc.untsystem.edu and click “Connect.”
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Login with your UNT credentials. For the username, students will use STUDENTS\EUID and employees will use UNT\EUID.
For assistance installing the client or using the virtual lab, contact COE SCL via Zoom meeting at: 940 565 4379 or https://unt.zoom.us/j/9405654379
COE Tech
During the COVID-19 emergency period, COETech will be available for support in the following channels:
- Phone
- The COETech main line is 940-565-4110. During the remote work period, please leave a voice message that will routed to a technician
- Email
- Email coetech@unt.edu with technology question
- Zoom
- A Zoom meeting will be monitored from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Click the link above or download the Zoom client and join meeting 475452300
- Teams
- Microsoft Teams will have a Team named “College of Education – Denton”
- Inside the Team there is a channel named “Ask COETech” chat that will be monitored from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
UNT UpdateJune 25, 2020
Dear UNT community members,
In the weeks since the COVID-19 crisis first appeared, we have taken extraordinary steps to keep our campus community safe, support our students' success through remote learning, and keep all but essential staff at home. As we prepare for a limited return to in-person instruction, these remain our top priorities, and as a caring community, we need to all pull together to ensure a successful semester for our students and minimize the financial impacts of COVID on our community.
One critical step that we have taken to stay safe and ensure a strong return is that Chancellor Roe has issued a memo requiring masks to be worn at all of our campus locations by all students, faculty, staff and visitors, effective immediately. We ask for everyone’s commitment and support in these measures, but know that there will be those who aren’t always mindful of their social responsibility to our collective safety. We want to ask for your help in keeping everyone on our campus safe. Please encourage those who aren’t meeting our expectations for safety, including wearing masks, staying socially distanced, and being considerate of those around them to help. Keeping our community healthy is everyone’s job. To help with this, we will provide a guide and tips on how to respond when you observe a community member who is not demonstrating safe behaviors next week.
You will be hearing more about our reopening and safety plans in the coming days and weeks. We are close to finalizing our Return to Campus Guide, as well as the second module of the COVID-19 Safety Training for UNT faculty and staff. I anticipate that both will be shared with you next week as we continue to work together to reopen our campus in the safest way possible. It also is important for you all to understand that this is an evolving situation, and we are committed to flexibly responding to whatever challenges arise.
We pride ourselves on being a caring community, so let’s please take care of one another during this pandemic. Wear your face coverings, maintain social distance and frequently wash your hands so we can help keep each other and our community safe.
Stay safe, Neal Smatresk UNT President
UNT Update March 22, 2020
Dear Faculty and Staff,
As vice presidents finalize staffing plans to keep only essential personnel on campus, I am instructing them to expedite the process for identifying those who will be needed to serve remaining UNT students in residence halls and serve critical business continuity functions. The campus will transition to only essential operations and we will move all other campus offices to virtual service delivery by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 24.
UNT employees who do not fall into the essential personnel category for being on campus and are unable to do their work from home – as determined by your vice president and supervisor – will be reassigned to other duties or receive emergency leave through Friday, April 3. If health-related restrictions have not changed, the length of emergency leave will be evaluated at that time. Please visit this UNT System website to learn more about COVID-19-related emergency leave.
On Monday, March 23, we are also discontinuing most, but not all, in-person appointments for students and transitioning to virtual options where possible. Those options include email, telephone, and Zoom or other video chat services.
The Student Health and Wellness clinic is among the services that will continue face-to-face appointments, along with dining and residence hall services – with social distancing in mind. I should note that prospective students will also be able to utilize nearly all virtual options.
We began this intense effort to support our community’s safety by extending spring break and moving classes online. It has been truly amazing to watch the teamwork by faculty and staff as we moved quickly to take care of each other and our students. We have also taken measures to ensure that our resident students are not unilaterally displaced, rather that we continued to provide a safe haven for those with the need or desire to remain in our care.
It is my hope that these immediate changes will further safeguard our community as much as possible while continuing to fulfill the university’s primary mission to serve our students.
Sincerely, Neal Smatresk UNT President
UNT Updates
March 20, 2020
Dear Mean Green family,
We are living through an unprecedented global event the likes of which we have rarely seen in the 130-year history of our university. The personal impact on each of us and our normal routine on and off campus is great, which is why I am writing to share news about Commencement with you today.
After much consideration, I have decided to postpone Commencement ceremonies that were scheduled for May 7-10. Our spring commencement is the last major event to be impacted, and the decision was not made quickly in order to thoroughly consider whether we could begin returning to normal operations in early May. While we should all remain optimistic about where we could be with the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) in 45 days, families of May graduates need to know now whether to make travel arrangements.
I know that crossing the stage is a defining moment for our students who have worked so hard to earn their degree(s), so please know that many people across campus are currently reviewing ways to still allow commencement to happen later in the year for any graduate wishing to participate. Whatever is decided, spring graduates will have an opportunity to participate in an in-person ceremony and cross the stage at a commencement ceremony, but you will officially graduate regardless of whether we hold a ceremony or not. As soon as we make a decision regarding these later ceremony options, we will share that information with our community.
For students who still need answers regarding our transition to online instruction, including such topics as the availability of laptops and textbooks, please visit our frequently asked questions page on the healthalerts.unt.edu website.
Thank you for your patience as we work together to allow our students to complete the current semester over the coming weeks. I understand that this is a difficult time for them, their families, and our faculty and staff, but we are pulling together and solving problems as they arise in a way that demonstrates our caring and creative UNT spirit.
Sincerely,
Neal Smatresk
UNT President