Academics

Start

• Wednesday, March 31

End

• Tuesday, June 8 (Please note there will not be a finals week.)

This fall is dramatically different from the spring term when the faculty had fewer than 14 days to entirely change their courses and every course needed to be online. We divided our courses into in-person, hybrid/hyflex, and online. In-person classes were determined based on the high-impact outcomes of those courses. Hybrid/Hyflex was determined by the faculty members’ desire and capabilities.

New technology has been deployed all over campus moving our 286 learning environments. Previously fewer than 50 classrooms were equipped with cameras, speakers, microphones and monitors. Now, only 70 remain unequipped. Moreover, the University has invested $3M into teaching supports, including additional classroom assistants to help faculty manage technology difficulties.

Online classes cannot be converted to in-person because we do not have the physical space on campus under the de-densification ordinance to adapt. However, if necessary, students may complete an in-person class, or a portion of the class, in an online modality. Programs may use several strategies to help students stay on track. These include course substitutions, modification of academic plans, modification of graduation requirements, and/or allowing some students to take scheduled, in-person or hybrid/hyflex courses in an online modality for limited or extended periods. Individual units will make these decisions on a case-by-case basis.

For students in an in-person or hybrid/hyflex course who then become ill and need to temporarily quarantine, the instructor will work with them to identify an appropriate way to make up the missed classes. This may include allowing a student to watch a video recording of the course and/or to engage in other online activities. Students unable to attend in-person sessions for longer periods should contact their advisor, instructor or dean’s office to get help in navigating to the best outcome.

The university does not have sufficient physical resources to have all classes in-person. Several classes need to move to an online format to fit within our constraints. The classes chosen to be held online are mostly large classes, but some were selected because the department has significant experience in online delivery and is better positioned to deliver high-quality instruction in that modality.

The modality of the course was selected and placed in the schedule of classes before TA assignments. Therefore, it was not possible to request their input. TAs can request work as normal. In addition, additional classroom assistants are being added as a support for the coming year to lessen the burden on faculty and enhance the experience for students. These classroom assistants will be assigned to numerous classes primarily to make sure technology is running and to serve as a helper. 

All classrooms are being digitally and physically measured and reconfigured to ensure we have at least six feet between all seats. This evaluation of our current learning spaces has been going on for several months, and testing was carried out during summer in-person courses to ensure compliance in a real-time scenario.

Our faculty are very creative, and we want to encourage in-class activities. However, we must maintain our distancing requirements. Please contact the Office of Teaching and Learning with specific questions on activities, and we will consider possible solutions for you.

Unfortunately, plastic face shields do not provide sufficient protection and are not recommended by the CDC or our health experts. As such, we have decided to remove the face shield as an alternative to face coverings. Some units have very unique challenges, which we are using experts on campus in aerosol science to help design solutions. These solutions are forthcoming but will be incorporated into the action plan.

Students at the University of Denver are required to attend classes per DU policy and individual faculty attendance policies. However, the University recognizes that students may be unable to attend in-person classes or class sessions because of quarantine requirements, health accommodations, or travel restrictions.

All academic programs at the University of Denver are committed to helping our students stay on track for graduation during the pandemic and will work to assist them in making academic progress in their degree programs. Programs may use a number of strategies to help students stay on track, including, for instance, finding alternative courses, waiving or substituting requirements, or enabling students to take a required course at a later date.

Students should note that in-person courses at the University of Denver were specifically designed to have an in-person component due to the high impact qualities of the course. Students who are able to attend in-person class sessions should do so in order to have an optimized experience. If a student is scheduled for an in-person class but would prefer to take the class in a fully online modality, it may be possible to work with the instructor to secure this arrangement; however, this option is not guaranteed, and in most cases the student experience will be best served by finding a class taught in the preferred modality from the outset.

For students who are in an in-person or hybrid/hyflex course and become ill and need to temporarily quarantine or isolate, the instructor will work with the student to identify an appropriate way to make up the missed classes and remain engaged with the course material.

If a student is unable to attend in-person classes or class sessions for an extended period of time, the student should ask their instructor whether it will be possible to remain in the class remotely, take an incomplete (if appropriate), whether they should withdraw from the course, or pursue a medical leave of absence from all classes for the quarter.

Students wishing to request COVID-19 related adjustments due to being immunocompromised should visit DSP's COVID-19 Requests webpage. Students who experience COVID-19 symptomology of a duration longer than 2 weeks can contact the DSP for information about requesting temporary or ongoing accommodations.

We are committed to ensuring student academic progress is maintained during this challenging time. What does this mean? It means that we will work closely with you to make sure you stay on track and not lose progress to your degree as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically:

• For students anticipating graduation in June: We will be rapidly conducting degree evaluations for all those intending to graduate in June, looking for missing classes, seeking alternatives, and communicating frequently. 
• For our commitment to diverse learning styles and neurodiversity: We will be ramping up resources, tools and advising to support the transition and navigation into these new online learning environments.
• For students who anticipate technology challenges with online coursework: Please contact the Provost’s Office (provost@du.edu) and we will help you troubleshoot. 
• For students using GI Bill benefits: We know you are concerned about potential impacts to your benefits as a result of transitioning all courses online. A legislative solution is currently moving through Congress. Please be assured that as updates come in, Veterans Services and the Certifying Official will update you as soon as possible. 
• For all students: We are working to create or modify policies to support your success and help you stay on track for degree completion. 

Students who fall ill with COVID-19 will be able to take the in-person components of their class online during the period they are in isolation. However, students who become severely ill can use the existing process best designed for their needs and circumstances, such as medical withdraw, grade replacement, and incompletes.

Currently, DU’s Return to Campus Protocol requires wearing cloth face coverings at all times while on campus will be required for all DU community members except:

• When alone in a private office;
• For students, when alone — or with a roommate — in an assigned dorm room;
• When eating and drinking while practicing social distancing — including in a campus dining facility if sit-down dining is resumed;
• When an alternative has been approved as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act or religious observance accommodation processes.  

All instructors, staff, and students will be required to complete a Canvas course related to COVID19 supports, expectations, and procedures. This course will be part of a community public health campaign that communicates to instructors, staff, and students the benefits of wearing a face covering and following other guidelines such as handwashing and sanitizing, including sanitizing classroom spaces. Finally, the DU Honor Code has been changed to reflect the requirement to comply with COVID19 related protocols. Students not wearing a face covering will be in violation of the DU Honor Code and can be required to leave campus if they refuse to wear a face covering.

Every course should have an instructional continuity plan such as designating a teaching partner to take over the class in the event of instructor illness or emergency. 

Every course should have a plan in place to switch to fully online learning (either synchronously or asynchronously) in the event that in-person/hybrid/hyflex courses are no longer able to be offered.

All office hours will occur online or by phone unless instructors can ensure proper distancing. Most faculty offices are too small to ensure proper distancing.

Class size will depend on the size of the room. DU will follow guidelines from the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE). Under current guidelines, classes in regular sized rooms are capped at 50 students. Classes held in “extra-large” spaces are capped at 100. DU has very few spaces that qualify as “extra-large” under current guidelines.

Now that the Registrar’s office has a draft of the revised 2020 schedule of classes that includes the class modality, they will be working to place those classes into physical locations as quickly as they can. Classrooms will be assigned based on size and the technology available in the room.

Classrooms will be equipped with a camera and microphone to transmit video and audio content to students who are not able to attend that course in person. Courses scheduled to be taught as “hyflex” will be scheduled in classrooms with enhanced technology to facilitate teaching and student online participation.