The global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged educational institutions worldwide to rapidly shift to an online mode of teaching. In this paper, we discuss the concept of emergency remote teaching (ERT), including its implementation and evaluation, in the context of higher education in Indonesia. The Context, Input, Process, and Product framework was used to evaluate the implementation of ERT based on the experiences of 45 faculty members and 82 students from seven universities and colleges in three provinces in Indonesia. This study revealed several points of view. First, the shift to the ERT process depends on various aspects: internal organizational resources (curriculum, staff development, and technology), and external challenges (lack of access to a fast, affordable, and reliable Internet connection and the socioeconomic problems of the participants). Second, the ERT learning design needs to be framed using three principles: simplicity, flexibility, and empathy. The schools/administrators understand that this is not a normal situation in which learning competency standards must be rigorously met. In a crisis, given the facts that show disparities in technology and Internet networks, curriculum fulfillment is not the sole issue; it is also important to care for and support learners during this difficult time. This study provides recommendations that will serve as input for future strategies and educational policies in Indonesia, and developing countries in general. Additionally, this study can also be used as a benchmark for evaluating learning in similar situations in other countries.