1. I do not have access to high-speed internet or a laptop. What should I do?
Beaman Library has a limited number of Chromebooks and iPads available for check-out. Please contact the circulation desk at 615-966-1793 or the Reference Desk at 615-966-6037 for information on this service. You may also email susan.phifer@lipscomb.edu for additional information.
Comcast announced free broadband and WiFi access will be available for 60 days to households with students from kindergarten to college who do not already have a Comcast broadband subscription at any service level up to 100 Mbps.
Applicants can simply visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376 for English and 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish to establish service.
2. What online systems am I required to use?
Your instructor may use tools like Canvas, Zoom, Panopto, or Google Meet to offer their course work in a remote-learning environment. Canvas and Zoom will likely be two of the more common tools you will be using. In addition, Calendly will be a tool used by some professors during advising time to schedule your advising appointment time.
3. What training will be available to help me use the online systems?
A student support page is being developed to assist you in utilizing the online systems required for completing course work in a remote-learning environment. Once developed, the webpage will be shared with you.
4. What do I do if my internet connection goes down during a synchronous class?
Internet connectivity and technological challenges are expected. Please work with the IT Help Desk (Visit: helpdesk.lipscomb.edu or Email: helpdesk@lipscomb.edu) to remedy the connection and technology challenges, and work with your instructor to capture what content was missed.
1. How will I interact with my instructor and classmates?
Instructors will use discussion boards and online engagement tools to ensure you can continue working with peers and faculty. These tools will allow you to collaborate, discuss course work, and complete assignments. Your instructor will provide you with additional information.
2. Who can I contact if I have a question about my courses moving to remote delivery?
If the question refers to your ability to access technology tools, you should contact the IT service by visiting helpdesk.lipscomb.edu or by emailing the Help Desk at helpdesk@lipscomb.edu. If your question is about the course itself, you should contact your instructor by email. If your question involves approved accommodations for the course, you should contact Leslie Beach (leslie.beach@lipscomb.edu).
3. Will classes be at the same time as my original schedule?
That will depend on the approach your instructor decides to take with remote instruction. Some of your classes may take a synchronous approach and meet at their scheduled time using Zoom or other video conferencing technology. Some of your courses may take an asynchronous approach and suspend meeting at the scheduled time. In this case you will be required to participate in your coursework at your convenience. Some professors may combine these two approaches and convene the class on occasion but not at every class scheduled meeting time.
4. I’m being told my class will be “synchronous.” What does that mean?
Synchronous learning is learning that occurs at a specific time via a specific medium. Before the University announced classes were moving online, it likely meant you attended class on specific days, at a specific time, and in a specific classroom.
Synchronous learning in a remote environment happens via video- or tele-conferencing, live chatting, or live streaming lectures on your normally scheduled class day and time.
5. Do my classes have to be synchronous?
No. Some classes may be delivered asynchronously, which means that you will decide when you participate in the course instruction provided by the instructor.
6. Which is better, synchronously delivered classes or asynchronously delivered classes?
It depends on the content being delivered and the preference of your professor. Sometimes content is best delivered with the presence of the full class and the instructor teaching in real time. The instructor can engage with questions and make certain that everyone receives the same message from the content. In addition, synchronous content delivery will enable the content to remain on a specified delivery schedule in order to cover information that students will need for future courses, etc. For some content, it is best delivered and learned by crafting opportunities for students to engage in a longer period of reading, thinking, and dialogue. Asynchronous delivery offers flexibility as to when students engage with the lesson and how long they can remain engaged with the content.
7. Will there be accommodations given for tests and assignments?
Students who received testing or assignment accommodations for the spring 2020 semester should continue to have access to accommodations throughout the remote delivery of courses. The nature of any testing or assignment accommodations that were approved for spring semester 2020 in-residence courses may vary in the remote environment. If you have accommodations, you should receive information about how your specific accommodation will be met in the remote environment. In some cases, the remote teaching environment can eliminate the need for the accommodation. Questions about specific accommodations can be directed to Leslie Beach ( leslie.beach@lipscomb.edu ).
8. How will labs be delivered remotely?
The method of delivering a laboratory experience will depend upon the particular lab and the professor. There are several virtual approaches available to deliver lab content. You should consult with the professor of your particular lab course to see what approach will be taken to present the lab portion of the course.
1. How will exams be affected?
The University will ensure that students can complete assessments, quizzes, and exams remotely. Some exams will be offered through Canvas, others may be via email or other platforms. Your instructor will communicate additional information.
2. What if my course grade is based significantly on class participation? How does my instructor know I’m participating?Instructors will use discussion boards and online engagement tools to replicate in-class discussions. In addition, your instructor may change expectations for engagement as well as other requirements for the course.
3. What if I have a lab- or studio-based course? How will it be graded?
Your instructor will communicate expectations for how your course will continue and be graded.
4. How will ongoing group projects and/or assignment deadlines be managed?
Assignment deadlines will be communicated to you by your instructor. Your instructor will also communicate to you how group assignments will be handled or modified.
5. Who should I contact if I encounter challenges with my courses?
Contact your course instructor first. If you need further assistance, contact the head of the department offering the course. Email is likely the best way to contact instructors and department heads.
6. Who should I contact if I have unresolved course challenges or encounter challenges not related to a specific course?Your assigned adviser is an excellent resource. They can help triage situations and connect you with appropriate resources.
7. How do I meet with my academic adviser during remote delivery?
Your academic advisor will be in contact with you regarding how to schedule an advising time and in what format your advising will occur, by phone, email, google meets, zoom, etc.
8. How will this affect my academic progress and/or graduation this semester?
Our priority is to maintain the integrity of our course work while delivering that course work remotely. For most students, we do not anticipate this will affect your academic progress or the completion of your degree. However, students involved in practicums, clinicals, and other experiential learning need to consult with your major professor regarding the impact of this situation on academic progress and degree completion.
9. Will there be accommodations given for tests and assignments?
Students who received testing or assignment accommodations for the spring 2020 semester should continue to have access to accommodations throughout the remote delivery of courses. The nature of any testing or assignment accommodations that were approved for spring semester 2020 in-residence courses may vary in the remote environment. If you have accommodations, you should receive information about how your specific accommodation will be met in the remote environment. In some cases, the remote teaching environment can eliminate the need for the accommodation. Questions about specific accommodations can be directed to Leslie Beach ( leslie.beach@lipscomb.edu ).
10. How do I complete my graduate project or thesis?
Your faculty supervisor will work with you to identify alternative ways of achieving the learning outcomes for the project experience. If you are completing a research thesis, your faculty supervisor will work with you to determine the best way for you to complete your thesis project and the approval and defense processes.
11. Will the math lab, writing studio, and other tutoring offered through the academic success center be available?
Yes, plans are for peer-to-peer tutoring, math lab, the writing studio and other tutoring opportunities to be available via Zoom. Appointments will be made with tutors. Information will be sent to students regarding how to schedule a time with a tutor. Questions about tutoring should be directed to Andrea Davis, (andrea.davis@lipscomb.edu).
12. Will the library be open during this time?
At this time library services will continue both virtually and on campus. Beaman Library will hold specific hours of operation, but the online resources are available 24/7. Library hours of operation can be found at library.lipscomb.edu. In addition, specific questions can be emailed to librarycirculation@lipscomb.edu or beamanlibrary@lipscomb.edu.
13. May I set up an appointment with my professor in her/his office?
At this time, instructors are redesigning course content for remote delivery. In some cases, instructors may choose to do this from their office. In other cases, instructors may choose to do this remotely. Therefore, it is best to conduct appointments by phone, email, google meets, zoom, etc.
14. Will I be required to attend chapel?
Because of the extenuating circumstances, chapel will be voluntary. Chapel opportunities will still be available to students, and we encourage you to participate because your academic, spiritual, and personal growth is interwoven into your student experience.
15. Will attendance policies still be enforced?
In some instances, attendance policies may be modified while in other instances, they will not be modified. Please check with your instructor about course specific attendance policies.
16. If I get sick, do I have to participate in a synchronous class?
Classroom and/or participation experiences are an integral part of the learning process whether that process occurs on-site or remotely. Your participation in the course continues to be expected even in a remote environment. If you are sick and cannot participate in the learning process you should communicate with your professor and let her or him know, just as you would in an on-ground instructional setting, that you are sick and cannot participate as expected in the course.
17. Will there be a May commencement ceremony?
The on-ground May commencement ceremony has been cancelled. Alternative approaches to the May ceremony are currently being discussed.