Pivot to online learning: Reflections of the first-year professor

As colleges and universities dissect the events of the spring semester and grapple with preparations for the upcoming academic year, the focus has been on students’ outcomes and experiences, as it should be, however the crisis has also posed significant professional challenges for faculty. Particularly, early career tenure-seeking faculty have been placed in a precarious position as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In many cases, teaching responsibilities were increased as classes shifted to online learning, and progress in research and service components was retarded. Broadly, administrators have been responsive to the crisis and have offered one-year tenure extensions. Here, I will share my experience as first-year chemistry professor pivoting to remote teaching, research and service; 1) what I learned, 2) what I will improve and 3) what I plan to do for the fall semester.