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K-State Today

January 13, 2021

Preparing for the spring semester

Submitted by Chuck Taber

Dear Colleagues, 

Last Friday, President Myers announced that the first two weeks of the spring semester will be in a remote instruction format. The temporary shift to remote instruction for most classes will begin on Monday, Jan. 25. The university plans to return to the hybrid and in-person teaching modalities on Feb. 8. As with the fall semester, once the two-week remote teaching period ends, faculty will have the ability to temporarily adjust class modalities due to COVID-19 impact on in-person class attendance or changes in the pandemic situation. 

Our experiences in the fall, especially the lessons learned in the final weeks of the semester, can successfully translate to a strong start for the spring semester. During this remote instruction period, we will follow the approach we used for the last two weeks of the fall semester, essentially extending those procedures into the beginning of the spring semester.

Since Friday's announcement, we have understandably received a number of detailed questions from many of you. This letter includes responses to many of these questions about academic instruction, student and campus life, tuition and fees, and visitors and events as they relate to the remote instruction period.

Academic instruction 

1. I am teaching a lab, studio, performance, or clinical course. May I teach my class in person during the remote instruction period?
All classes that can be effectively delivered online will be. Some labs, studios, performance, or clinical experiences may begin the semester in face-to-face mode as approved by department heads, similar to the end of the fall semester. Students should expect that all courses will meet online for the first two weeks of the semester unless they are notified by the instructor. For additional information, please see my Jan. 11 PDF memorandum to deans and academic department heads or the updated academic instruction information on the COVID-19 website.

2. In the case that courses are in person, how will students know?
Instructors will need to communicate with students as soon as possible, but no later than Jan. 19, to inform them of the in-person class mode.

3. Should all faculty communicate with students regarding the course modality for their classes at the beginning of the semester?
All faculty are encouraged to communicate with students in their courses prior to the start of the semester. This outreach can assist in confirming the instructional mode, clarifying expectations, and encouraging connections. Because of the change to remote instruction so close to the beginning of the semester, all faculty are asked to send a message to all students, regardless of whether they are enrolled in a class meeting in person or not, by the end of business on Tuesday, Jan. 19. For message examples, please refer to my Jan. 11 PDF memorandum to deans and academic department heads. 

4. May I teach in person during the remote instruction period, but make in-person attendance optional?
All classes that can be effectively delivered online will be; some labs, studios, or clinical experiences will begin the semester in face-to-face mode as approved. Unless an instructor is teaching a course that is approved for in person, they should not teach in person, even if in-person attendance is optional.

5. May I hold in-person exams, performances, field trips, or other in-person activities?
Labs, studios, or clinical experiences that begin the semester in face-to-face mode as approved, similar to the end of the fall semester, should proceed with in-person activities. Other courses should not plan in-person activities for the two-week remote instruction period.

6. May I offer the option of in-person office hours?
Office hours will be offered virtually for the two-week remote instruction period.

7. May I use my office or a university classroom or lab to teach remotely?
Yes, instructors may use their office or university classroom or lab during their scheduled class time to teach remotely.

8. May undergraduate and graduate students working or conducting research on campus continue to do so?
Yes. Undergraduate and graduate students working or conducting research on campus should consult with their supervisor.

9. As an international student, I am concerned about the remote instruction period impacting my visa status. What should I do?
International students with questions about their visa status should visit with their International Student and Scholar Services advisor.

10. Will academic advising be available in person?
Academic advising will be offered virtually for the two-week remote instruction period.

11. Will tutoring, help sessions and other academic support be available in person?
Tutoring, help sessions and other academic support will be offered virtually during the two-week remote instruction period.

12. Will the library be open during the remote instruction period? 
Student services such as on-campus housing, libraries, recreation centers and Lafene Health Center will be operational on Monday, Jan. 25, following the same safety protocols as the fall semester. Building hours and services are available on the website.

13. Does the remote instruction period change the academic calendar?
The remote instruction period does not change the spring 2021 academic calendar.

14. What is the status of spring 2021 commencement?
Planning is underway for the spring 2021 commencement ceremonies. Because it is impossible to predict the status of the pandemic in May and we plan to host graduation ceremonies for spring and fall 2020 and spring 2021 graduates, we will hold in-person commencement in an outdoor venue. Information regarding confirmed dates, location, and details for participation by graduates will be available on the commencement website.

15. Following the two-week remote instruction period, will classes shift to in person?
After the two-week remote instruction period, all classes will shift to the mode in which they were scheduled. As in the fall semester, faculty should be prepared to remain in remote mode if conditions warrant. In addition, faculty need to prepare for shifts to remote learning during the semester.

16. What flexibility do faculty have to temporarily shift to fully online instruction for in-person and hybrid courses following the completion of the two-week remote instruction period?
As during the fall semester, a faculty member may choose to temporarily shift to fully online instruction for in-person and hybrid courses due to COVID-19 impacts on in-person class attendance. The number of students completing isolation and quarantine periods may create class dynamics that can make in-person class meetings difficult for some classes. Faculty should make the decision that best manages the learning experience and creates the environment that meets the learning objectives of the course.

If a faculty member believes that a temporary move to fully online instruction better supports student learning, they must do the following:

  • Consult with their department head to obtain approval.
  • Communicate the temporary move to online instruction to the students with a clear start and end date.
  • If a high isolation/quarantine rate persists after the designated end date of the temporary move to online instruction, the period may be extended with department head approval.

Department heads must do the following:
Track any approved temporary shifts to remote instruction on the reporting spreadsheet and provide the documentation to the Registrar's Office at the end of the semester. The Registrar's Office will need the course subject, course number, start and end date of the temporary remote option, date of student communication, reason, approval department head name and approval date.

It is important to note that it would not be appropriate to declare the shift of an in-person class to fully online instruction for the entirety of the semester unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as a faculty member unable to teach in person. In those cases, dean and provost approval is required.

17. Will academic building access be changed or restricted?
Academic building hours will remain largely unchanged during the first two weeks of the semester. Most buildings will be unlocked/locked on the same schedule on record with Facilities. Unit heads may adjust the hours their buildings are open by completing the Request for a Standing Building Order and send to rooms@k-state.edu. If multiple units are in a building, unit heads should coordinate and submit one request for a change to building hours.

Student and campus life

18. Are students allowed to move into campus housing as originally scheduled?
Move-in dates for spring 2021 on-campus housing will not change. Residents received an email on Monday, Jan. 11, with details regarding their return to the residence halls. 

19. Will the K-State Student Union be open during the remote instruction period?
The K-State Student Union will be open during the first two weeks of the semester. Building hours and services are provided on the website.

20. Will the Rec Center be open during the remote instruction period?
Student services such as on-campus housing, libraries, recreation centers and Lafene Health Center will be operational on Monday, Jan. 25, following the same safety protocols as the fall semester. Building hours and services are available on the website.

21. During the remote instruction period, will students have access to isolation and quarantine space?
Yes, students will have access to isolation and quarantine space as outlined in university guidance.

22. During the remote instruction period, may student organizations host in-person meetings?
No, in-person meetings or retreats of student organizations currently scheduled during this period should be moved to a virtual format. 

Tuition and fees

23. Does the remote instruction period change tuition and fee charges?
Spring 2021 tuition and fees, including the campus privilege fee, will not be affected by the decision to start the semester in remote instruction mode. The pricing remains the same based on the modality assigned to the courses in KSIS. Spring 2021 housing and dining charges are also not impacted.

Visitors and events

24. Is the university still hosting campus visits?
Yes. The university is offering limited in-person visits and virtual visits in accordance with university health and safety guidance. Details about future student visits for the Manhattan and Polytechnic campuses are available.

25. Is the university hosting in-person events during the first two weeks of the semester?
No. Events will be virtual for the first two weeks of the semester. In-person events originally scheduled for this time, including student organization meetings and events, will be moved to a virtual format.

We hope that these FAQ are helpful as you plan for the spring semester. We understand that you will have additional questions and encourage you to send them to covid19@k-state.edu.

President Myers and I will continue to offer Town Hall events for the university community to stay informed and connected during the spring. The Town Hall schedule will be released soon. Finally, please check the weekly summaries of COVID-related news in K-State Today and the university's COVID-19 website for information. 

As we concluded the fall semester, many of us hoped that by the start of the spring semester, we would be in a much better place. The realities of a pandemic that continues to surge, new variants of the virus, and a vaccination rate that is lagging behind projections have created the conditions that compel us to remain diligent in our efforts to mitigate the spread. I urge all members of our communities to practice prevention behaviors. Wear face coverings, stay at least 6 feet away from others, avoid crowds, and wash your hands often. I remain hopeful that better days are ahead. Our willingness to redouble our efforts to protect ourselves and each other by following the health and wellness protocols is necessary and the promise of more widespread access to vaccinations is encouraging.

The last year has not been easy. Yet, our students, faculty, staff, and communities are showing great resolve in the face of uncertainty, tremendous change, and fatigue. Thank you for doing your part to keep our communities as safe as possible.

Please take care of yourself and each other. 

Sincerely, 

Chuck Taber
Provost and executive vice president