What will it look like to teach and learn at App State in Fall 2020 and beyond?
Our learning environment has been fundamentally changed by COVID-19, and fall semester 2020 will not look like fall semester 2019.
University of North Carolina System Interim President William Roper, in consultation with UNC System chancellors, continues to watch state COVID-19 metrics for how they might impact our plans for the future.
Our decisions are informed by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s timeline, as well as guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local public health agencies and UNC System leadership. We are keeping our students, faculty and staff up to date with regular communications. Please continue to monitor email and this website for updates as we continue to plan for multiple scenarios in order to remain flexible and responsive to whatever the coming weeks and months hold.
This page will be updated throughout the coming weeks.
Last update: 8/01/2020
Delivery methods, classroom utilization and scheduling
The Fall 2020 Schedule of Classes has been updated to reflect adjustments to room assignments, class times and class delivery methods. The new schedule will offer a variety of course types to allow greater physical distancing in classrooms and flexibility for faculty and student needs. Course types include:
- Face-to-face courses held in classrooms arranged to provide 6 feet of physical distancing.
- Hybrid, which has both online and face-to-face components, including rotating student groups, synchronous broadcast and HyFlex, in which students have multiple options to achieve course goals.
- Online courses (synchronous or asynchronous), in which students will participate from their residences or other designated learning areas across campus set up for physical distancing.
Learn more about these course types here (PDF).
Once schedules were updated, Vice Provost Mark Ginn notified faculty and staff so they may prepare to work with students. Students were notified shortly thereafter. Read the message to students about this here.
Students who wish to change sections of a course may make those changes online. Students who feel the need to change courses rather than just sections may wish to check with their academic advisor to understand the effect this change may have on their academic plan.
Academic Affairs has developed recommendations and information regarding class attendance and student absences. Read more information here.
Technology for fall semester and beyond: On July 16, Information Technology Services (ITS) shared an update with students about technology for the fall semester and beyond, including online computer labs, laptop recommendations and more. Read the update here.
Fall 2020 tuition bills
Fall 2020 bills are scheduled to begin posting to student accounts. Regardless of delivery method campus services such as tutoring, advising, writing center, peer academic coaching, counseling, student health services, and many more will be available to students. When necessary this may be in a remote format. Representatives in Student Accounts and the Office of Financial Aid are ready to answer questions, but please note that both areas are currently experiencing a high call volume and will respond to all voicemails and emails as quickly as possible.
- Visit the Student Accounts website for information on bills and due dates.
- Visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website for information on financial aid.
The UNC System has shared that in the event institutions are able to offer financial relief to students — in the form of refunds or other measures — they would certainly like to do so. This will be a System decision and we await further guidance.
Classroom configuration
Teams from Academic Affairs and Facilities Operations are working on customized configurations of classrooms, labs and other learning spaces to allow for appropriate physical distancing. This work will continue throughout the summer.
- Furniture will be re-organized to reduce seating and place 6 feet of distance between each person in the classroom.
- All available space on campus, including the Plemmons Student Union meeting rooms, conference rooms and other meeting room spaces on campus, will be utilized as classroom space in order to accommodate physical distance requirements.
- Cameras, microphones, projectors and other equipment are being purchased for classrooms and other learning spaces in order to accommodate physical distancing requirements.
- Heating and air systems are being optimized to provide the greatest possible fresh air exchange.
Face coverings
Faculty and students will look a little different, too, since everyone will be wearing a face covering. Read more about the face covering policy.
Classroom sanitizing
For information about cleaning and disinfecting, click here.
Hallways, offices and common areas
Signage about physical distancing will be placed in building entrances, hallways, offices and any common areas where students, faculty and staff would previously congregate between classes and during the day.
Office hours with faculty also will be different, as faculty members opt for using Zoom meetings or larger available spaces such as classrooms instead of their individual offices.
Positive test cases and what happens when someone tests positive
For information on positive test cases and what happens when someone in the App State Community tests positive, click here.