Here is an updated set of topics that the Academic Operations Team has discussed, and timeline updates. We will provide additional information during the week of September 7.
Course Capacities and Waitlist Permissions
We have received questions from faculty regarding the possibility of over-enrolling their courses as the Registrar’s Office gets ready to release waitlist permissions starting September 10th. As always, over-enrollment of courses rests solidly in the purview of the faculty. However, we are unable to move face-to-face classes to larger spaces as in the past. While faculty teaching online-only courses can increase caps as they wish, courses with an in-person component (F2F, HYB, MMOD) are more restricted in their options. Here we provide some guidelines for faculty:
- Face-to-face components of courses need to abide by the physically-distanced space constraints of the assigned classrooms, studios, and laboratories.
- Faculty should not over-enroll their courses without carefully considering the need to create an equitable learning experience for all students enrolled in the course. It would not be equitable for some students to take a course in person and others remotely, unless the course was designed with that intent (i.e. as a Mixed Mode course).
- Faculty teaching Mixed Mode courses could increase the number of remote students, once the classroom capacity is reached, assuming that they are able to retain an equitable learning environment for all students enrolled in the course.
- Faculty cannot belatedly change the course mode to accommodate students. International students with F-1 Visas need a majority of their courses to have a face-to-face component and their visa status could inadvertently be impacted.
- One approach for expanding Hybrid course enrollments is to split the class in half and plan to alternate meetings in person with 50% of the students each time. The students not meeting in person could complete coursework remotely. A decision to take this approach is at the faculty member’s discretion.
Clarification on the Student Testing Plan
Faculty have asked for some more clarification about student testing. Students are being tested in four groups and the test results will be updated on our website dashboard with the number of positive cases after each group is tested. Once there are 8 rounds of tests, students will be done with their second tests.
- All results from the first test should be complete before September 14. Students will be isolated if their first test is positive, and students who do not receive their test results before the first day of class (for example, if there is a delay in processing tests) will be quarantined in their rooms.
- All the early arrivals (e.g. RAs, NSW Peer Leaders) should have the 2nd test results no later than Sep. 14.
- All first-years should have their 2nd test results no later than Sep. 15.
- Remaining students should have their 2nd test results no later than Sep. 20.
- You can plan that the second Monday of the term everyone will have completed and received the results from two tests. If faculty want to teach the first week outdoors or remotely, they can.
Timeline Updates
Completed:
- Classroom capacities are finalized and furniture layouts completed
- Faculty teaching some component of their class in person have received a classroom assignment.
- The LTC and ITS held mock classes in Leighton, Boliou, and the Weitz Center
- Tents (outdoor classrooms) are installed
Currently ongoing:
After Sep. 4:
- Classroom layouts and seat numbering
- Classroom technology descriptions, including those prepared for recording and/or filming
After Sep. 10:
- Sanitizing supplies in classrooms
- Classroom ingress/egress and cleaning protocols disseminated
- Training for using the classroom technologies in assigned rooms
- Student study/zoom spaces become available for reservation
Ongoing during the Fall term:
- On-going support from the LTC; please contact Victoria Morse.
- On-going support from AT on specific topics and through daily drop-in hours