As a student at the University of Illinois, your courses may vary in the modality, or method by which the instructor has chosen to meet for class. A variety of terms may be used to explain the way(s) the course will meet.
Face-to-face (F2F): The course will meet in-person in an assigned space on campus. In a F2F scenario, your instructor may utilize distributed attendance to ensure the maximum number of people in the classroom does not exceed the recommended capacity. Email your instructor if you are unsure if distributed attendance procedures will be used in your course.
Synchronous: Everyone enrolled in the course will meet at the scheduled class time in Zoom or another online meeting platform.
Asynchronous: There is no scheduled meeting time and each person is responsible for keeping track of readings and assignments as scheduled for the course.
Hybrid: A combination of F2F and online learning options may be used for the course. For example, in the case of a lecture-discussion or lecture-lab course, some instructors may utilize an online learning method for the lecture (either syncronous or asynchronous), and have the option to meet F2F for the discussion or lab.
Hyflex: This form of instruction utilizes all or most available options of blending learning. An instructor who uses a hyflex modality provides students the option to attend F2F, synchronously attend (by way of Zoom), or asynchronously participate by watching the recorded F2F / sychronous session.
Each course is unique. Read your emails closely, check Course Explorer, and email the instructor or your academic advisor if you have questions. Consider using a semester planning guide (fillable doc) to help you keep track of when courses meet and what modality the course is utilizing during specified times.
NOTE: In any F2F course meeting scenario, arrive early to class, have your Safer Illinois app ready to show to the Wellness Support Associate who will check your COVID-19 status, wear proper face covering, and practice social distancing. It is also recommended that you bring a laptop or phone and ear buds to participate in synchronous, hybrid, or hyflex group breakout activities. Additional information for on-campus and remote students can be found at the University of Illinois COVID-19 website.
In order to be in compliance with the mandatory COVID-19 testing program required of all students with on-campus classes, you must be testing on-campus.
The University provides recommendations for when you should quarantine or isolate, including suggestions for what to do when you have been in close contact with someone who tested positive, how to monitor your own health and symptoms, and the number of days to quarantine or isolate.
You will be notified of your twice weekly test results via email through the McKinley Patient Health Portal. You can also see your test results on the Safer Illinois App. If you receive a positive test for COVID-19, it is important to learn more about contact tracing, isolation, courses and absences, and student resources.
Each instructor has an attendance policy that is unique to his, her, or their class. Review the attendance policy described in each course syllabus, and communicate with your instructor. If your instructor asks for a verified absence letter from the Office of the Dean of Students, you can submit a request for an absence letter.
Plan to attend the ACES Student Success Workshops offered throughout the semester to help navigate and overcome challenges you may experience. Adopt a growth mindset (Dweck, 2006) and utilize research-supported strategies for success in an online learning environment.
Students at the University of Illinois have access to several free software and technology resources. The Technology Loan Program is available for students who need assistance with hardware, software, or other technology to access online courses and complete assignments. Software can be purchased from the Webstore. Find answers to questions about software and services at Illinois Tech Support or email specific support resources.