Here are some updates from the last couple of weeks for your information.
Instructors should continue to keep a lookout for Academic Affairs emails from the Provost’s Office titled “CU in Spring Semester: Tips, Strategies and Resources for Instructors.”
COVID-19 Testing
- Continue to pay attention to OURClemson emails and the Healthy Clemson: United as Tigers website for up-to-date information about COVID-19 testing requirements.
- Weekly testing started last week and facility access will start to be revoked this week for employees and students who have not completed weekly testing.
Teaching Resources
- The following guidance about exams/tests has been provided for instructors based on the instructional mode of their course(s):
- Online course –> Online tests and exams
- Hybrid/blended course –> Online tests and exams
- Traditional modified course –> In-person* or online tests and exams
*Keep in mind that some students (or instructors) may not be comfortable handling paper at this time. Instructors shall be prepared in case this issue comes up in a class. It may be best for instructors to survey students ahead of time. Some ideas to address this for in-person exams include (for students without online only accommodations):
–Administer online exams in-person (paperless).
–Post the exam on Canvas (or other platform) and allow students to work problems out on their own paper, then scan and upload as they would an online test. This can be done in-person and students could use Lockdown Browser while being proctored by the instructor and /or TA(s) in-person.
Synchronous mid-term exams/tests shall be administered during regular class periods unless otherwise approved as a common exam and stated in the syllabus. (**There will not be any in-person common exams this semester.) Final exams are to follow the guidelines above and shall be given at the assigned date and time posted on the Exam Schedule.
- The Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation (OTEI) continues to update their Instruction for 2020-2021 website to include useful information about teaching as well as information related to all types of classes including class regulations, guidance on attendance policies, and more.
Student Attendance
- REMINDER: If a student has to miss class due to COVID-19, it is recommended that instructors have students notify them through the Notification of Absences form in Canvas (click HERE for instructions). In addition to informing instructors, this will also inform other relevant campus offices of the situation.
- REMINDER: Please keep in mind that there will likely be students who have to miss class for an extended period of time due to COVID-19. In some cases, depending on symptoms, students will still be able to participate online. They should be afforded the opportunity to do so.
Student Study/Meeting Spaces
- REMINDER: There are multiple locations for students to study and/or meet across campus while following all COVID-19 guidelines and many of them can be reserved. An inventory of Campus Study Spaces is maintained by the Libraries and will continue to be updated throughout the semester. Additional information is also maintained on the CECAS Course Support website.
- REMINDER: When rooms are not being used for teaching, they should be left open for students to use for studying or participating in online classes. Departments are encouraged to post a class schedule outside of classrooms in their building(s) for students to see availability. Also consider allowing students to reserve smaller spaces (e.g., conference rooms, vacant offices, etc.) to take online tests or participate in online classes as some students may have online and in-person classes back-to-back.
Summer Planning
- The Academic Calendar for summer 2021 has been modified slightly. Summer Session II will now start on June 28 (previously June 23). With this change, final exams have been shifted one day for Summer Session II, Long Summer, and Summer Mini D terms.
- Travel restrictions will be continue through August 31. With this restriction, Clemson is not approving students to study abroad in-person this summer. Advisors are not to approve “Requests for Approval of Courses to be Taken Abroad” if the student is taking the courses in-person.
Student Success
- On January 13, the University launched the Early Alert campaign for instructors to identify undergraduate students who are not engaging in classes during the first couple of weeks of the semester. Instructors are asked to submit reports using a very simple process by January 25.
Student Engagement
- We have launched new Opportunity Grants for CECAS students. There are two categories:
- Undergraduate Research Grants
- Student Organization Grants
- Opportunities will continue to be promoted to students on the Student Opportunities In addition to the Opportunity Grants, the site was recently updated with a filterable events calendar. If your department would like to promote anything on this website, please email engagement@clemson.edu. If your department/school has a Canvas page or newsletter where you share information with students, please add Aubrey Baldwin, Director of Student Engagement, to your list (anchild@clemson.edu for Canvas, engagement@clemson.edu for emails).
- REMINDER: Faculty, staff, and students are strongly encouraged to continue to use the CECAS Student Engagement Reporting Tool to report attendance at activities and events that are hosted outside of class.
Dates to Keep in Mind (Academic Calendar)
- Last day to drop a class without a W – January 20
- CUhackit – January 30-31
- E-Week – February 21-27
- National Scholars Program Selection Weekend – February 26-27
- Last day to withdraw from a class without final grades – March 12
- Spring Break – March 15-19
- Registration for Fall and Summer terms begins – April 12
- Final exams – April 26-30
- Deadline to submit candidate grades – May 3 by 9:00 am
- Deadline to submit other grades – May 5 by 9:00 am
- Approval of candidates for graduation – May 5 at 1:00 pm (tentative)
- Doctoral hooding ceremony – May 6 (time TBA)
- Commencement – May 6-7 (time TBA)
As always, please let me know if you have any questions or if there is anything you need that we can help with.
