Check-In: Are you ready for Virtual Learning?
August 17, 2020
The new academic year is here! While it will not begin how many of us imagined, we hope to assist you in making the most of this experience. As you might imagine, departmental services and processes will look different this semester. Even the opportunities to engage with your peers will be different. We understand that this new normal has the potential to be overwhelming and want to offer you some tips in navigating this experience. Below you will find questions and recommend actions to assist you in making some final decisions before classes start.
Am I required to attend in-person classes for the fall semester?
What factors should I consider in making my decision to complete the Fall 2020 semester virtually?
- Financial Aid and Veteran Benefits. Please connect with the Office of Student Financial Aid or the VA Certifying Official to make sure you have as much available information to make your decision. The staff in these areas are connecting with their peers and our leadership to make decisions and interpret state and federal policies. In switching to fully online you will be asked to acknowledge the following statement “I understand that online instruction may not be allowed/recommended by some entities outside the control of Clemson University and may impact my qualifications or aid benefits.”
- We recommend you look at your financial aid award and contact financial aid to provide the name of the scholarship or grant you are receiving to ask if it will impact your Fall semester award or a future semester. You can reach them at finaid@clemson.edu.
- If you are a military-connected student or student veteran using the GI-Bill, you can contact the VA Certifying officials to find out if switching to a fully online semester has any potential impact on your funding. You can reach them at VAbenefits@clemson.edu.
- Housing. If you have an on-campus housing assignment for Fall, please connect with University Housing and Dining to understand how their cancellation process works and if you are still responsible for any fees. Currently, their website indicates that cancellation processes will follow their appeals process which currently addresses financial or medical hardships. You can reach them at clemsonhome@clemson.edu.
- We recommend you ask if you are still responsible for any Fall semester housing and dining fees if you switch fall to fully online. These fees would include meal plans, room, and any applicable living-learning community fees.
- We also recommend you ask how switching to fully online for Fall might impact your Spring semester housing assignment.
- If you are in an LLC such as RISE, CUBS, CONNECTIONS, etc. please contact the LLC coordinator to see if you will be able to participate in programming or use services remotely.
If I opt into virtual learning at the beginning of the semester, can I change my mind and attend in-person classes later in the semester?
- No, the decision to switch to fully online for Fall cannot be reversed.
After I decide to opt into virtual learning for the fall semester, what steps should I take?
- Once you receive confirmation of your decision to switch fully online, please follow-up with your faculty members. Faculty will receive an email to inform them of your decision. The email states that faculty are to provide you with clear expectations about your remote participation.
- We recommend you take a proactive approach and ask faculty how your remote participation will impact any of the current assignments for the course especially as it relates to exams.
- We also recommend you ask if you will be able to engage synchronously – at the time your class is scheduled to meet each day or if you will have an asynchronous experience which may include recorded lectures.
What resources are available for academic support?
- Course Support. Tutoring and Peer Assisted Learning Sessions will be hosted virtual so that you can receive support wherever you may be. Tutoring will include individual appointment-based options and small group drop-in options. You will be able to schedule tutoring via CU Navigate. For instructions visit the ASC website.
- If you do not see a course supported by tutoring or PAL, do not hesitate to connect with their staff at tutoring@g.clemson.edu to ask if there are other options. There are a number of private tutors available through tutor matching services.
- Student Accessibility Services. If you have any questions or concerns regarding learning accessibility or equal access to instruction due to a disability, please contact Student Accessibility Services at studentaccess@lists.clemson.edu or by phone at 864-656-6848. For more information regarding learning accessibility and the online transitions, please visit the Student Accessibility Services website.
What if I have internet connectivity issues during the semester or prior to move-in?
- Many internet providers such as Comcast, Cox, and Spectrum are offering free or reduced services for students taking classes online. We recommend contacting your provider for more information. If this is not an option and you do not have a reliable internet connection, please contact ITHELP@clemson.edu for information on how to access a cellular hot spot. For more information visit the IT Resources website here.
- It may also be helpful to notify your professors that you are experiencing connectivity issues during synchronous or asynchronous learning.
What resources are available if I am concerned about my home environment during the fall semester or prior to move-in starting in September?
- We recommend contacting the Office of Advocacy and Success. For more information about the services that they provide, please visit their website.
The staff in CASE are ready and willing to meet with you throughout the semester to connect you to resources, discuss your experience and goals, or simply offer a listening ear. You can schedule your meeting with us in CU Navigate!
