Dear Faculty,
The current status of the novel coronavirus and its many variants necessitates a consistent vigilance to mitigation. Communications will send any updates to operations pursuant to the pandemic via email and post announcements to the COVID-19 microsite. Please make sure that you check your email and the website for updates during the holiday break.
Tuskegee University’s Spring 2022 semester classes will begin Thursday, January 6, 2022.
TU serves three broad groups of students: distance learners who engage in online instruction (except for some in-person internship and residency experiences in some special programs), non-residential students who attend classes on the TU campus, and residential students who attend classes virtually and in person.
Classroom spaces are configured to ensure six (6) feet of distance between occupants. TU will supplement in-seat instruction with online, synchronous delivery of classes. Using our Hy-Flex model, all in-seat class sessions will be live-streamed for synchronous online participation and recorded for asynchronous online learning. These options will enable students who cannot attend a class due to illness or other considerations approved by faculty to continue participating in their classes. To the extent possible, classes will become paperless and contact-free (assignments submitted electronically). At the discretion of the instructor, in-class testing will be permitted.
The University’s in-seat attendance policy applies to all students except for those students who have been selected to attend classes virtually as their learning modality, in isolation due to illness, quarantined students, or based upon the faculty member’s need to manage classroom occupancy per CDC physical distancing guidelines.
For students whom Student Affairs have directed to attend class remotely, the instructor must adapt pedagogy, learning activities, assignments, exams, or quizzes to accommodate the student during the class sessions. This includes students who have been directed to isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19 (typically 10-14 days).
For students who are in person for the course (have not selected to attend virtually only or hybrid):
- The student must provide the instructor with prior notification if the student cannot participate in class in person on a given day.
- A student with an excused absence may attend the class remotely if the modality is available. Still, the instructor is not required to adapt pedagogy, learning activities, assignments, exams, or quizzes to accommodate the student during the class session.
- If a student becomes ill before the beginning of class on a given day, the student may attend the course remotely. Still, the instructor is not required to adapt pedagogy, learning activities, assignments, exams, or quizzes to accommodate the student during the class session.
- The instructor may require a student to provide medical documentation or notice from the Dean of Students to grant an excused absence due to illness.
- The instructor may lower a student’s class attendance/participation grade due to an unexcused absence even if the student attends the class remotely.
Laboratory and simulation experiences will be managed to the extent possible so that occupants can maintain six (6) or more feet of distance. Students eligible to participate in clinical rotations, internships, and other community placements will be provided with detailed information by program directors about the personal protective equipment (PPE) they will need to safely participate in the experience at a particular site.
Faculty and other employees must always wear a face mask or covering in classrooms on all indoor public campuses. Students must wear face masks or face coverings in classrooms and public indoor spaces.
All department heads should work with faculty to develop an absentee plan for each course offered to ensure continuity of service if a faculty member is unable to teach due to illness.
Faculty cannot change a class modality without written permission from the Office of the Provost through their respective Dean.
