Archived Content Notice
The information on this page reflects campus policies and procedures for Fall Quarter 2021 and Winter Quarter 2022 and may not apply to Spring Quarter 2022 or later.
Summary
- Student requests to remotely attend in-person courses because of a COVID-19 related hardship, travel restriction, or medical condition are being centrally evaluated
- Beginning in August 2021, faculty will be notified of students enrolled in their courses who have an approved accommodation or temporary (1 quarter) exception to in-person attendance
- Additional resources, including training and classroom support, will be available to assist faculty in providing instructional content for these students. To request additional support, please email dtei@uci.edu.
- Given the temporary nature of these exceptions, the intent is not for instructors to redesign or fundamentally alter their courses. As remote students face hardships related to COVID-19, instructors should focus on providing a path to success through the same learning outcomes versus the same course content. The DTEI team is available to help with the delivery of content that both meets learning outcome goals and any required exceptions or accommodations.
Details
As previously communicated, the campus expects that the vast majority of students will return to an on-campus experience this Fall. Although some undergraduate students may choose to build a fully remote schedule using available online/virtual courses, most will likely need to take at least one course in-person. In the rare circumstance that students cannot attend their Fall courses in-person because of a COVID-19 related hardship, travel restriction, or medical condition, two centralized processes are in place to evaluate student requests:
- Disability Services Center (DSC): as part of their established accommodation services, DSC may approve an accommodation that includes remote instruction for students with certain temporary or long-term disabilities, including some medical conditions related to COVID-19.
- Temporary Remote Alternative for COVID-19 Related Hardships: under a temporary new process that has a deadline of Friday, September 3, 2021, a central committee is evaluating requests for remote instruction from students who are unable to come to UCI due to travel restrictions or students who are experiencing temporary and exceptional hardships related to COVID-19.
Similar to other forms of accommodation, faculty are not expected to fundamentally alter their in-person courses in response to students’ inability to attend in-person. However, they do need to provide full instructional content that will enable these students to achieve the same learning outcomes. This could include streaming or recording lectures, existing course videos, online discussions and assignments, or a combination of these and other resources. Courses with significant active learning and in-class exercises will be addressed individually.
Beginning in August 2021, the Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (OVPTL) will contact faculty who are teaching courses with students who have been centrally approved through either mechanism to determine what support will be required to meet any approved accommodations or alternative instruction. Faculty may also be notified by DSC or the students directly, in which case they can reach out to the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (dtei@uci.ed) to receive support services (e.g., consultation, training, and lecture capture assistance). For students with an accommodation approved through DSC, their office will work with faculty to determine what constitutes a reasonable accommodation or a fundamental alteration.
For additional information, please see the FAQ that follows. Questions should be directed to dtei@uci.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions for Faculty
Does this mean faculty need to teach two versions of the same course?
The primary focus for Fall 2021 is providing a small number of remote students with access to instructional content and learning activities that they would otherwise experience in the classroom. Coursework that already occurs outside of the classroom could likely remain the same. This is distinct from a “dual-mode” or “hyflex” course, in which any enrolled student can switch between in-person or virtual formats of a course at their discretion. Lecture recordings and other materials prepared for fully remote students may also benefit other students, particularly those who cannot attend some class sessions because of illness or quarantine.
Where should faculty direct students if asked about attending an in-person course remotely?
If a student indicates that their situation is related to a disability or medical condition, please refer them to the Disability Services Center: dsc.uci.edu. For other circumstances, such as travel restrictions or financial hardship, please direct the student to email uciteachingquestions@uci.edu for information on how to apply for an exception. You may also direct students to an academic advisor or department resources if you feel it is a more appropriate starting point.
Can faculty make their own arrangements with students who contact them directly about remote attendance?
If a student indicates that they have a disability or medical condition that impacts their learning and/or their ability to attend in person, we recommend that faculty refer them to the Disability Services Center so that they can become familiar with the full range of support services and resources available. For other requests, such as those related to travel restrictions, faculty can make individual arrangements with students if they feel comfortable doing so.
Does this process also apply to graduate students?
Graduate students may request accommodations and/or remote alternatives through these same channels. However, any approved exception to in-person attendance will only apply to courses in which the individual is enrolled as a student. For research and other employment- related matters, departments should consult with their Associate Deans, the Graduate Division (research), or Academic Personnel (employment matters).
What resources are available to help faculty who need to provide remote instruction?
In addition to the general workshops and services available to faculty, the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (DTEI) is preparing dedicated resources and support for in-person courses that have students attending remotely. This includes additional assistance in the classroom to help set up and monitor lecture recordings and live streams. More information is available on the Supporting Students with an Approved Exception page and will be communicated to faculty teaching impacted courses.
What if my course has in-person components that are required by a third-party (i.e., accreditation)?
If this is the case and a student has an approved accommodation for remote instruction through the Disability Services Center, please discuss the situation with their office directly. For students approved through the temporary alternative instruction process, please contact dtei@uci.edu, though we will make every effort to identify these accreditation-related courses ahead of time.
Can I require students to come to campus for exams?
The same circumstances that necessitated remote attendance for class sessions will likely make it difficult for these students to take an exam in person. For students with an accommodation through DSC, please work with their office to identify options. For students approved through the temporary alternative instruction process, please contact dtei@uci.edu if you have questions about in-person exams and proctoring options.