Instructor FAQ

What policies will be in effect for Fall 2021 final examinations?

Guidelines for Fall 2021 final examinations will be the same as those for final examinations in Spring 2020—alternate means of final assessment will be permitted with the approval of the department chair, but without need for COCI approval. See also ...

My course is approved as a course with a final exam, but I would instead like to have students do a final project or paper. Do I need anyone’s permission in order to make that change?

The COCI Handbook (section 722) stipulates that a final examination that may take up to three hours to complete is required in all undergraduate classes. Permanent exceptions to that requirement require COCI approval. Your department chair has the authority to make a one-time exception to the final exam requirement.

I am an instructor of a remote class and would like to offer an in-person exam. How should I proceed?

There may be an option for instructors to schedule in-person exams for remote class sections, to be taken by students who live on or near campus and wish to take exams in-person but are not enrolled in any in-person components of the course. Work with your department scheduler and the Office of the Registrar to request space. Space availability may be the binding constraint. If you have departmental space available, that is your first-best option. If you are able to secure departmental or GA space and offer an in-person exam for your remote class, remember that you...

I am an instructor teaching a remote class that holds some discussion sections in person and some discussion sections remotely. How should I deliver exams?

In general, your starting point should be to hold the exams in the same format in which most students are receiving instruction. This is not a requirement for faculty, but it is the assumption that lies behind the allocation of classrooms for Fall 2021. If your lecture is remote, no rooms have been reserved for you for midterms or for finals. This is true whether all, some, or none of the associated discussion/lab sections are in-person.

If your lecture is remote and you want to hold in-person midterm exams, you have two options. One is to...

Should instructors of fully in-person classes make any preparation to offer remote exams in the event of emergency conditions?

All instructors should be prepared to pivot to remote instruction in the event of a public health or climate emergency situation.

Can midterm exams be scheduled at pre-pandemic density?

In-person exams can be scheduled at the same density as instruction. That said, if public health conditions lead to a change in guidance, in-person instruction and exams could be impacted. For that reason, all instructors should be prepared to pivot to remote instruction at any point during the semester.

When is it permitted to pivot to remote instruction?

Campus may issue a directive to shift to remote instruction based on public health conditions, fire-related poor air quality, or some other emergency. A temporary shift to remote instruction is also appropriate if an instructor is ill. For short illnesses faculty should do what they would have done before the pandemic, whether cancelling a class, offering the class remotely, or giving a small assignment to substitute for the class session. For longer illnesses, or if a faculty member (or their young children) are instructed by public health to...

Is it acceptable to have office hours online rather than in person?

The key here is communication with your students and ensuring that the mode of delivery of office hours supports their learning. Currently, it is acceptable to hold some office hours online rather than in person. In addition, keep in mind that Senate faculty are expected to be in residence (physically on campus). Instructors who are teaching entirely remotely and don't have permanent/regular office space on campus will be allowed to hold all of their office hours remotely if they wish.

If all of my teaching in Fall 2021 is remote, am I required to be in residence in the Fall? Does “in residence” mean I must work from my office, or can I continue to teach from home or other off-campus location?

In-person engagement is part of a vibrant campus experience that fosters discovery and education. Reflecting that, University policy (APM 730) states, "Academic personnel appointed on an academic-year basis are expected to be in residence from the day designated in the University Calendar as the opening of the Fall term through the end of the Spring term." Senate faculty are expected, therefore, to maintain a presence on campus with most activities, in addition to their teaching, being done in-person (including some of their office hours). Those faculty who seek an...

I am apprehensive about teaching in-person given current COVID infection rates, and would like to teach remotely for the first two weeks. Is this permitted?

The campus has not declared a public health emergency and remote teaching is not permitted, except for classes with enrollments of over 200 students and in some specific and limited instances (described below).