FAQ Category: Fall 2021 Instructional Modes

Remote synchronous courses cannot be offered in fall 2021 because of concerns related to our university accreditation. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university was required to provide the full range of services to distance learners that it provided to residential learners. Resident learners have access to these services by virtue of their presence on…

Decisions about course modes should be made collaboratively with your unit head, faculty, and where available, instructional designers and others who support the course that is being considered. Whenever possible, this collegial conversation should include all instructors who are teaching the course. The overarching responsibility and final decision stays with the chancellor or dean (or…

It is possible to have a split between Web and in-person modes across multiple sections of a course. Offering a limited number of asynchronous Web sections will help provide flexibility while ensuring that we are meeting our residential mission. Offering a course in the remote synchronous mode is not an option unless the course is…

Remote synchronous is not an available mode unless it is part of a shared program/course. If space is limiting the number of sections that can be offered, the use of asynchronous Web courses would be a good approach to help meet student demand.

No. We recognize that some students will not be able to attend in-person classes and we will need to have options available to them that will allow them to continue to make progress. Such options will include enrolling in asynchronous Web courses or doing a temporary change of campus to Penn State World Campus.

We know that some students who cannot return to campus will need alternatives and separate guidance is being developed for these situations. The guidelines for change in mode document outlines the considerations to be made when changing the mode of a course based on the residential mission of the University and the pedagogy of the…