Finalizing Spring 2021 Instruction Modalities

Dear Twin Cities Faculty and Instructors,

As we approach midterm, I want to convey my ongoing appreciation for the exceptional effort you have made during the summer and fall. Now, with spring semester registration beginning for students on November 10, we look to all of you who will be teaching in the spring to finalize decisions about modalities for your course(s).

I ask instructors to please confirm your preferred course modalities in consultation with chairs/heads. Departments should update the class scheduling system (CCS) with all confirmed modalities for spring classes no later than November 9 to ensure that students have accurate information as they consider their course selection.

  • I continue to encourage and empower you to adopt the modalities that will best suit your course(s) and learning objectives, and which are responsive to your individual and family’s health status, whether fully in-person; fully online (asynchronous); remote (synchronous); or blended/hybrid (see the class format guide for definitions of the four different modality options).
  • In considering in-person or blended modalities, I note that we have no reported cases of COVID-19 transmission in a classroom or laboratory setting based on case investigations completed by state and local public health representatives. As I speak with my Big Ten provost peers, they report the same situation: no traced transmission in the in-person classroom.
  • In considering remote or online modalities, I encourage you to draw on appropriate training and development resources for instructors that can help you develop and deliver a high-quality experience.

Barring unforeseen events, we anticipate we will start spring semester as scheduled on January 19 with each class in the modality that instructors choose. We have moved Spring Break to April 5-9 (with the exception of programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry) and have not yet determined the modality of instruction for the end of the Spring semester.

As a reminder, for fall semester and into the spring, instructors teaching in any modality will need to accommodate students who may be ill, in isolation, or in quarantine (see the Makeup Work policy and these guidance materials for further information).

I continue to deeply appreciate all you are doing to fulfill our shared commitment to delivering excellence in teaching, research, and service for our students and communities. It is clear that your efforts are ensuring the success of this fall semester, and I know they will prove equally important for the spring. On behalf of our students and all our constituents, thank you.

As always, I welcome your questions or comments at [email protected].

Sincerely yours,

Rachel T.A. Croson
Executive Vice President and Provost

Email was sent to all Twin Cities faculty and Twin Cities staff instructors scheduled to teach in fall and spring semester on October 29, 2020