Spring 2021 CCS extension - Oct. 2nd

Numerous departments have expressed that more time is needed to update spring classes due to the 6 ft. physical distancing guidelines still in place and instructors still determining their modality for their courses.

Departments now have until the end of the day on October 2, 2020 to edit their spring schedules in CCS. All General Purpose Classrooms (GPC’s) for the spring semester have already been released.

Classes will be assigned rooms using Requested Room Capacity. Make sure to adjust the requested room capacity on your classes as necessary. This is particularly important for classes offered in a mixed format where only a fraction of the students attend in-person each day, while the rest are online and students rotate which day they attend in-person.

Please try to limit shifting class times from previous terms so students’ degree progress is not negatively impacted due to required courses offered during overlapping times. We will be reaching out the week of Oct. 5-9 if we notice some concerns. Please see the UMNTC Spring 2021 class setup guide for additional help.

Add Class Notes

Pre-formatted class notes in the 5xxx range that need to be added to meeting patterns based on teaching modality (in-person, blended, remote, or online) are new for spring 2021. Please refer to the UMNTC Spring 2021 class setup guide for details.

If the modality of the class changes, please remember to change the note number or delete the class note.

By adding a pre-formatted class note based on the modality of the class, an attribute will automatically be added to the class which allows students to search for classes by modality in Schedule Builder.

Specific requests and enrollments over 30

You may send in specific classroom requests to ocmsched@umn.edu, but we will not review requests until the week of Oct. 5. We will make every attempt to give departments their preferred classrooms, but you should be prepared to have some classes in rooms you normally do not use.

Also, if you are planning on offering an in-person class with an enrollment capacity of more than 30, please let us know, and we will try to accommodate a classroom.

Please email ocmsched@umn.edu with any additional questions (sooner rather than later)!

Reminder: Fall 2020 final exam scheduling

All final exams for fall 2020 will be conducted online. All rules set forth in the final exam regulations apply to all online final exams.

• All synchronous classes holding synchronous online exams will follow the published Standard Final Exam Schedule.
• All synchronous classes holding asynchronous online exams should ensure the due date for their exam is not earlier than the published Standard Final Exam Schedule day/time.
• All asynchronous classes holding synchronous online exams should take their final exam on Thursday, December 17, 2020.
• All asynchronous classes holding asynchronous online exams should ensure the due date for their exam is no later than Wednesday, December 23, 2020.

The Final Exam Change Request form is due by October 2, 2020. It must be used by any class that has a need to change their final exam date, time, and/or room.

• Final exam regulations
• Final exam schedule
• Final Exam Change Request form
• Scheduling Examinations, Final Examinations, and Study Days policy

Spring 2021 CCS Scheduling Update by 9/25

As of now, we can expect the same 6 ft. physical distancing guidelines to be in place for this upcoming spring term. This means that classroom availability for in-person classes will be significantly limited, and room capacities will remain reduced.

Additionally, CCS is scheduled to close on September 25, 2020 for spring semester room assignments. Please review your classes and make changes accordingly.

If you have any questions regarding spring 2021 class setup, please reference:

• Spring 2021 class setup guide
• UMNTC Spring 2021 class scheduling FAQs

Please email ocmsched@umn.edu with any additional questions (sooner rather than later)!

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Guidelines for classrooms

These are the latest guidelines from the MDH for classroom activities. Keep in mind:

• This new guidance does not change the EO 20-74 25-person cap requirement for other indoor U non-class "activities," which "includes, but is not limited to, testing, short-term training programs, student services, advising, internships, clinical rotations/placements, customized training, internships, campus visits, programs, and all research activities and functions." That cap remains at 25 persons.
• This new guidance does not change the EO 20-74 mandate applying to other social gatherings, as stated in the new guidance: "Social gatherings not associated with a class or structured event/meeting must not exceed 10 indoors or 25 outdoors." Those caps remain in place.

Room layouts

Each general purpose classroom will have an updated room layout to accommodate for safe, 6-foot physical distancing. Seats that are designated for students will be identified with a floor decal, while other unusable seats will be labeled with a “Do not use” sign. Examples of 6-feet physical distancing layouts for various room types can be found on OCM’s 2020 explanations and guidelines.

Maximum room capacity

In order to accommodate physical distancing, the maximum capacity for each general purpose classroom has been reduced. Each classroom will have a maximum occupancy sign at its entrance, as well as an additional sign next to the new room layout.

Classroom access

Right now, classroom doors with card readers are only accessible via UCards for faculty and staff. Classroom doors will return to the normal unlock schedule starting September 8, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

If instructors want to get into their assigned classroom before classes begin, please have them contact ocmevent@umn.edu to reserve the room for a given time. Technology is still being installed in classrooms and reserving the room will prevent disruptions in this process. If an instructor would like additional information on the technology in the room they will be teaching in, please direct them to the Equipment instructions on the OCM website.

Study Space Finder

As students return to campus this fall, areas, such as study spaces, libraries, classrooms not in use, and lounges, will be made available so that students will have various areas to study and attend classes, whether their course is online, remote, or blended. To find these areas, students should be directed to the Study Space Finder.

Students can also view each classroom schedule using the QR code on the classroom sign in the hallway to see if a general purpose classroom is available.