Course formats and schedule for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021
Greetings UW-Whitewater Students,
This message contains information about the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters.
Fall 2020
After Nov. 20, all instruction will be remote only. Most support services will still be available on both the main campus (Whitewater) and the branch campus (Rock County). You can contact each service office for information.
Dec. 11 is the deadline to change your grade basis to satisfactory (S) or no credit (NC) in an undergraduate course or to Pass/Fail in a graduate course.
Spring 2021
The spring semester begins on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Courses will be conducted using formats that vary from fully face-to-face to fully online, as defined below. The bulleted notes indicate how each format will be identified in the WINS course schedule.
Face-to-face. All students will meet face-to-face during each class period.
- These courses will be identified with a room or “TBA.” A time will be specified.
Hybrid format. The class will be taught with a mix of face-to-face and remote teaching. For example, on a given class day, some students might attend in person while other students participate remotely. Classes will be a mix of in-person and remote learning. An email from your instructor will provide clarification. The email will be sent before the semester begins.
- Two locations will be identified for these courses: the room on campus and “HYBRID.” A time will be specified.
- The class will have a note that states: “This is a hybrid course, which will have both classroom meetings and online/remote instruction. Further information will be given before the first day of class.”
Remote format. The class is fully remote, but not designed in the same way as online courses. Some remote classes will be held during the scheduled class time using synchronous (live) instruction. “Synchronous” refers to class sessions that are broadcast live, in real time. Others will be a blend of synchronous and asynchronous instruction, or even fully asynchronous. “Asynchronous” refers to class sessions that are recorded to be viewed at a later or different time.
- The room location for these courses will be listed as “REMOTE.” A time will be specified.
- The class will have a note that states: “This is a remote course. Further information will be given before the first day of class.”
Online format. These courses are developed in advance using techniques that primarily involve asynchronous instruction.
- The room location for these courses will be listed as “WEB BASED.” A time will not necessarily be specified.
- The class will have a note that states: “This is a web-based course using Canvas. Further information will be given before the first day of class. A required additional fee will be assessed for this class.”
Adjustments will continue to be made if needed, so please check your WINS course schedule periodically. Students can expect emails from each course instructor before the first day of spring classes describing attendance and course format details.
When developing these delivery formats, we did not change or add any course fees. Fees that were already part of a particular course remain the same, and no additional fees will be added.
Spring Break has been moved and will now occur during the week of April 19-23. No courses will occur during spring break. If conditions allow, courses will resume after spring break in the same format they were running before break. If conditions are not safe for a return to in-person instruction, then we reserve the opportunity to hold all instruction remotely after spring break. Everyone will be notified in advance of this decision. The updated calendar for spring is available at https://www.uww.edu/documents/registrar/Calendars/2020-2021/2020-21%20CALENDAR-10.28.20%20Updated%20APPROVED.pdf.
We greatly appreciate your patience and flexibility as we continue to navigate this very challenging COVID-19 virus. We will continue to improve our plans so you have classroom and learning experiences that are as safe and educational as possible.
Mask-up. Keep a safe distance. And wash your hands frequently.
Thank you for everything you are doing to help everyone stay safe!
Greg Cook, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Pronouns: he, him, his