Below are some updates and reminders related to the start of the semester, fall classes, resources for instructors and students, and COVID-19 protocols.
Please see the update from Academic Affairs that was sent out this afternoon. This includes a number of guidelines for the fall semester. This email also includes a link to the Return to Campus Guidelines that were updated on August 5.
Return of Students
- Students will start moving into their on-campus residence halls starting today, August 10. First-year students will move-in Tuesday-Thursday, then continuing students will move-in Friday-Saturday. New Bridge to Clemson students will move-in August 19-21 (Tri-County Technical College classes start on August 23).
- First-year students will have in-person orientation activities on August 13-15.
- Welcome Week activities will run from August 10-20. There will be activities available for all students during Welcome Week.
Fall 2021 Classes
- Instructors are encouraged to reach out to the students on their class rosters to introduce themselves and provide an overview of what the class will look like for the Fall semester and what they should expect (share the syllabus if it is ready). This can go a long way in putting minds at ease over the next couple of weeks. It can also be an opportunity for instructors to gather some information about their students relevant to their learning and what challenges/concerns the students foresee. Students want to be prepared for the beginning of classes and this contact will help them do so.
- Students with accommodations from Student Accessibility Services (SAS) are being instructed to request letters be sent to their instructors about their accommodations. However, instructors can view the students in their classes that have accommodations by going the SAS Faculty Resources page and clicking “AIM Instructor Dashboard” at the bottom.
- Develop contingency plans in case an instructor falls ill during the semester.
- Have a plan for how you will accommodate students who are placed in isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19.
Course Modality Modification
The process for students to request a Course Modality Modification was posted on April 9 and included in the April 12 edition of OURClemson. Due to the recent COVID-19 developments, they are being lenient with the originally posted deadlines. A student must complete the application through Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and provide appropriate documentation. SAS will review the requests and if they find that the request meets the criteria, they will reach out to individual instructors. In the requests, there must be documentation from a medical professional that the student themselves has a condition that makes them high-risk with respect to COVID-19. If SAS does not find that the request meets their criteria, then they will deny the request, but potentially suggest that the student work with individual faculty. There are some students who have extreme situations beyond their control and faculty may agree to work with them.
If a student submits a request through SAS who then deems it an appropriate request (there are relatively few campus-wide), then instructors will get a follow-up email from Margaret Camp with SAS. Since this would be a course modality modification and not an accommodation, there is not a requirement that the student have an equivalent course experience as those participating in-person. With that said, here are some examples of how an instructor could accommodate this student in their course:
- Use the videoconferencing technology in the classroom to either stream the class live for the student or record the class for the student view asynchronously. I understand that in a large class, it may be difficult to manage a single student participating virtually, so this can be communicated to the student ahead of time.
- If the course material is already available in an online format (from a previous semester or instructor). The material can be made available to the student as an asynchronous variation of the course. The student could still participate in virtual office hours, submit assignments, take exams, etc. on the same or similar schedule as the rest of the class.
- Teach the course hybrid as we did last year with approved students participating remotely. This may not be a popular choice, but it is an option.
- Move the student to an online section of the course if one is available.
If the student’s request is not deemed appropriate by SAS, he/she may still contact their instructors to see if they would be willing to accommodate him. That will be at the instructor’s discretion, but there are faculty who are working it out even if it won’t be the most ideal experience for the student (from the instructor’s perspective). All of the above options still apply.
Instructor Resources
- Instructors should refer to the Clemson Teaching website hosted by the Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation (OTEI) for a number of resources to help prepare for classes.
- The Undergraduate Class Regulations and Graduate Class Regulations were recently sent to faculty. Please review these documents to be sure you are up-to-date with the most recent policies and guidance. These documents also include language to include in course syllabi.
- Instructors have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with classroom technology during the Classroom Technology Meet & Greet on August 16-17. Information and instructions about the classroom technology is available in the Faculty Resource Center. You can view the Clemson Online Summer Quick Hits session on Classroom Video Technology that was recorded last year. This session was useful and well received by the faculty who attended live. A list of the classrooms and technology can be found HERE. Instructors should report questions or issues to CCIT, so the issues can be documented and addressed.
- Clemson Online has offered a number of 30 minute sessions throughout the summer on specific topics of interest to instructors preparing for a new semester or just looking to learn something new for the classroom. These recorded sessions can be accessed HERE.
- OTEI has a number of resources available on their website that can be accessed HERE.
- Clemson Online and OTEI will continue to have events in the coming weeks and throughout the year. Click HERE for more information and dates.
Student Resources
- The Academic Success Center has a variety of resources available for students related to success in classes, tutoring and course support, academic coaching, and success workshops.
- Course support services will be available to students through the Academic Success Center (ASC), PEER/WISE, RISE, and General Engineering. Schedules will be posted soon.
COVID-19 Testing
- The University updated the testing schedule and information for employees on August 5. This can be found on the Return to Campus section of the Healthy Clemson website. Information about student testing procedures is also available on this site.
Policies and Procedures Refreshers
As we start the semester, you may want to take some time to review policies and practices that can be helpful as an instructor, advisor, or anyone who interacts with students. You can view helpful overview information on the topics below:
- Students in Distress: How to Recognize and What to Do
- FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
- Academic Integrity for Undergraduate and Graduate Students
