Course Policies and Syllabus

The Penn State Student Quarantine and Isolation document describes how you will be notified if a student in your class is in quarantine or isolation and the role faculty can play in contact tracing efforts.

For guidance on working with students who test positive for coronavirus or who find themselves in special circumstances created by this crisis, please see this FAQ.

Refer to University Faculty Senate Policy 42-27 on Class Attendance. Keep in mind that you can’t adjust the grading scheme for a student who misses assignments. All students must have the same opportunity to earn grades that you outlined in your syllabus.

Instructors are encouraged to communicate their contingency plans in advance so that students are aware of expectations in case of a temporary instructor or student absence.

For undergraduate students who become ill near the end of the semester, faculty have the option of assigning deferred grades under Senate Policy 48-40.

For graduate students who become ill near the end of a semester, refer to policy GSAD-906 Graduate Student Leave of Absence.

Resources have been created to help guide instructors in cases where students and/or faculty test positive for COVID-19 and need to be absent.

• The Contingency Planning for Academic Unit Heads guidance document provides guidance in the event of instructor’s extended absence or multiple student absences in a class.
• The Contingency Planning for Instructors page on the Web Learning website is a resource for how to handle any class meeting disruptions when absences occur.
• The Suggested Teaching Strategies in Residential Courses for Temporary Instructor or Student Absence guidance document was created to assist instructors in continuing course delivery in the case of student or instructor absence.