From: Richardson,David E

Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 12:45 PM

To: . CLAS-All-CLAS-Faculty

Cc: . CLAS-Dean and Associate Deans

Subject: Updated FAQ for Spring semester face-to-face instructors

Colleagues,

This is an update of the FAQ sent out Monday. Answers to several new questions that have been asked about face-to-face classes have been added to the end of the list, and one has been updated.

Many of the new questions have been discussed with the provost’s office and represent our current understanding of UF policy on face-to-face (F2F) instruction this spring. Some policies laid out below may evolve as the semester continues and college deans continue to work with the central administration.

We have heard many concerns about additions to the Gator Safe app, which now includes a section for student input about classes this semester. Conversations with the administration are ongoing, but I do want to pass on our current understanding of the intake process for any complaints received via the app: Intake and follow-up on student input will be handled by the University Ombuds, the process will follow the usual management procedures for student complaints, and will involve unit chairs and directors when necessary.

Please continue ask your chair or director if a question comes up that is not answered below. We will update the FAQ as needed.

Sincerely,

Dave

FAQ for CLAS instructors with face-to-face (F2F) class sections, Spring semester, 2021

Updated January 13, 2021

  1. Can an online section be added now to a course that at present only has a F2F section?

Answer: Yes, so long as the F2F section is retained with no change in the enrollment caps and with approval by your chair/director.

  1. Can students registered for a F2F section request to participate in the class online as a permanent change for the semester?

Answer: Students can move to another section, if seats are available, using the normal process during Drop/Add.

  1. Can I teach my assigned F2F class(es) from a location that is not on the university schedule for those section(s)? Answer: No. F2F sections must be taught in the originally scheduled classroom unless a room change has been approved by the college and the registrar.

  1. Will F2F students be charged distance learning (DL) fees if they move to the online section of a HyFlex class during Drop/Add?

Answer: Yes. If a student switches to an online section from a F2F section during Drop/Add, the posted DL fee for that sections will be charged.

  1. Can an instructor send an email to the class reminding them that if they are not “cleared” they should remain online and not attend class in person?

Answer: Yes, an instructor can email the entire class reminding them not to attend if they are not cleared. This approach is recommended over emailing individual students who are “not cleared,” as a student’s status may change before the actual class meeting.

  1. Are instructors allowed to inquire about a students cleared/not-cleared status during class?

Answer: Yes. Instructors can discuss with students their cleared/not-cleared status, although it is strongly suggested that they do this privately. Instructors may not inquire about a student’s medical information and its relationship to the cleared/not-cleared status.

  1. If a course was scheduled to meet online during the second class meeting of the first week, can an instructor still schedule the first class online? Answer: Yes.

  1. UPDATED: Students have scheduled an online course in the period immediately before or after a F2F course. Are there places on campus for students to participate in their online class?

Answer: Students are responsible for ensuring that they have a location for attending the online class meeting. For the Spring 2021 term, libraries, including discipline-specific libraries, have opened up additional space for students to study/attend zoom meetings. Please let us know if this is an issue for your students so that we can follow up with the central administration and advocate for more online meeting space.

  1. Is CLAS providing N95 or KN95 masks?

Answer: The masks distributed by CLAS for face-to-face instruction are a Kimberly-Clark N95 model.

  1. NEW: I have an ADA accommodation request under review (first submission or appeal). What is my teaching assignment while the ADA accommodation is being reviewed?

Answer: Instructor assignments are independent of ADA submission status. No change to an instructor’s assignment, including modality, can be made while the ADA review is under way.

  1. NEW: F2F sections are coded as “primarily classroom,” which means that at least 51% of class instruction must be F2F. If my original syllabus does not include online class meetings, can I now change the instructional plan to teach up to 49% online?

Answer: No. If the proposed mix was not the stated percentage online in the published course syllabus it cannot be changed. In addition, proportions of F2F and online instruction in the original syllabus cannot be changed.

  1. NEW: If the original syllabus for my F2F class included online class meetings (up to 49%), can that plan still be followed?

Answer: Yes, if this was the stated percentage online in the published course syllabus. Please note the following additional guidelines:

    1. Any planned online class meeting dates for a F2F section must be noted in the course syllabus. If they are not, specific dates already planned for online class meetings should be added to the syllabus.

    2. No increases can be made to the percentage of online course instruction after classes begin.

    3. Per previous college guidance, F2F courses with significant online components cannot be taught all online for the first half of the semester and then F2F for the second half (for example). Online and F2F components should be interspersed across the semester.

  1. NEW: Can students registered for a F2F section participate in the class online after Drop/Add?

Answer: Yes, in some cases. Once the Drop/Add period has ended a student can request instructor approval to remain in their F2F section but while participating online. This request can be granted if (1) the course has a mechanism in place to accommodate online instruction (e.g., HyFlex) and (2) the instructor approves. Note that you should also secure a written statement (for example, via an email that is saved for the record) from each student communicating the student’s intention to complete the remainder or some part of the course online. An instructor is not obligated to provide an online alternative if it does not already exist. While we recommend instructors remain flexible, students can be denied permission to move online if this is not compatible with the instructional plan of the course. After Drop/Add, students given permission to take a course online permanently should not be moved to the online registrar section.

  1. NEW: A F2F section has one (or more) students registered but the student(s) have all indicated that they will not be attending the course F2F. Does the instructor still have to teach in the assigned classroom at the assigned time if no students are attending the F2F section?

Answer: Yes. If an assigned F2F section has one or more students registered after Drop/Add, the instructor must teach the course from the assigned classroom. The college is advocating for a change in this policy, and we hope that it will be relaxed at a later date. In addition, please keep in mind the following guidance previously provided: “Instructors cannot advise or encourage students in face-to-face sections to switch to the online section or vice-versa.”

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David E. Richardson

Dean

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Professor of Chemistry

University of Florida

Turlington Hall 2014

PO Box 117300

Gainesville, FL 32611

Telephone: 352-392-0780

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