Teaching and Learning in 2020-21
Our learning environment has been fundamentally changed by COVID-19.
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.
Delivery methods, classroom utilization and scheduling
The Spring 2021 Schedule of Classes has been published, and students can view available courses on the Office of the Registrar website. The location and section note includes information about the class delivery method — face-to-face, hybrid or online. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisors as soon as possible to help them make the most informed decisions as they select classes.
- 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).
Students should carefully review the course delivery method and check with their academic adviser to create a schedule that works with their academic plan.
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.
Changes to Withdrawal and Grade Forgiveness Policies: On Oct. 16, Academic Affairs announced changes to the Withdrawal and Grade Forgiveness Policies. The last day to drop a fall 2020 class is Friday, Dec. 18, at 11:59 p.m. All fall 2020 and spring 2021 semester drops will not count as career drops. In addition, any course that a student is taking for the initial time may be repeated for grade forgiveness in a future semester and will not count as one of their four grade forgiveness courses. Academic Affairs encourages students to work with their advisors and the Office of Financial Aid before dropping courses as this may impact time to degree or financial aid eligibility. Read the update here.
2020-2021 tuition bills
Tuition bills are posted to student accounts at the beginning of each semester.
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Visit the Student Accounts website for information on bills and due dates.
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Visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website for information on financial aid.
Regardless of course 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.
Classroom configuration
During fall 2020, teams from Academic Affairs and Facilities Operations customized configurations of classrooms, labs and other learning spaces to allow for appropriate physical distancing. This will continue in spring 2021.
- Furniture has been 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, is being utilized as classroom space in order to accommodate physical distance requirements.
- Cameras, microphones, projectors and other equipment have been 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
Face coverings continue to be required on campus. Visit the Face Coverings page for details.
Classroom sanitizing
Visit the Health and Safety on Campus page for information about cleaning and disinfecting.
Hallways, offices and common areas
Signage about physical distancing has been 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 continue to 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
Visit the university’s Reporting COVID-19 Cases page for information on positive test cases and what happens when someone in the App State Community tests positive.
Fall 2020 course information
Fall semester 2020 did not look like fall semester 2019. Earlier key changes included:
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Once schedules were updated over the summer, Vice Provost Mark Ginn notified faculty and staff so they could prepare to work with students. Students were notified shortly thereafter. Read the message to students about this here.
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Students who wished to change courses rather than just sections due to the delivery method were advised to check with their academic advisor to understand the effect that changes could have on their academic plan.
Academic Affairs developed recommendations and information regarding class attendance and student absences. Read more information here.
Academic Affairs developed recommendations and information regarding class attendance and student absences. Read more information here.