Student FAQs

We will eliminate Fall Break and move to fully remote instruction for the two remaining weeks in the semester after Thanksgiving. This will reduce the amount of travel to and from campuses, which reduces the potential spread of the virus.

Other fall 2020 academic calendar changes are under study. If at any time during the semester the pandemic worsens, we will be prepared to move all instruction to remote learning.

Aug. 27-Dec. 20: Fall semester classes in session. In-person and remote instruction through Friday, Nov. 20.

• Fall Break will be eliminated.
• No classes will be held Monday, Nov. 23, through Friday, Nov. 27.
• Classes will resume on Monday, Nov. 30, and will be held via remote instruction only.

No matter how your class is delivered, you can have an enjoyable and meaningful learning experience. It is not at all unusual for Kent State students taking on-campus classes to add an online course to their schedule. In fact, last fall over 50% of students did just that.

This fall, however, even if your intention was to take all of your classes on campus, your schedule may show a variety of class delivery types such as as Traditional (TR) with building and room number, TR with building listed as Remote, Hybrid, V1, V2, or V3.

Designation Definitions:

• TR with building and room number - a traditional on-campus class (These classes will be delivered remotely after Thanksgiving break)
• TR with building listed as Remote - the instructor will deliver the class through Blackboard and may deliver live class sessions at your scheduled class time through Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
• Hybrid - classes converted to Hybrid, meaning that students will spend part of class time in the classroom and part of it on a computer
• V1, V2, or V3 - classes that were already created as online classes prior to COVID-19

What are all of these designations?  Why can’t I attend all of my classes in person?

COVID-19 had a tremendous impact on how classes can be delivered. Socially distancing is essential in every classroom which means fewer students can be in any classroom at one time. What is the best way to meet the educational needs and desires of students while still keeping them safe? That was the question that resulted in hours and hours of discussion and planning.

Each classroom was measured and mapped out to determine how many students could safely be in the room with their instructor. It quickly became obvious that many classrooms would not be able to hold all of the enrolled students at the same time. The search was on to find spaces that weren’t typically used as a classroom that might be able to accommodate more students at a time. These were added to the rooms available to be scheduled. Even with those extra spaces, it was obvious that there was no way to schedule all of the on-campus classes.

The next step in planning was to prioritize scheduling classes where a physical presence was most essential. All classes that could be scheduled in a classroom with the expectation of students attending all of their scheduled classes in that classroom until Thanksgiving break, show up on your schedule as TR with the building and room # listed. (These classes will be delivered remotely after Thanksgiving break.)

After those were scheduled, the next step was to schedule as many other classes into classrooms as possible even if not all of the students could attend at the same time. Classrooms were outfitted with lecture-capture software so that a professor could deliver a lecture to the students in the room while simultaneously delivering the lecture to students at home on their computer. These classes were converted to Hybrid, meaning that students would spend part of their class time in the classroom and part of it on a computer.

The remaining classes originally intended for on-campus for which there was no classroom available were reclassified as TR with the building listed as Remote. The Remote designation means that the instructor will deliver the class through Blackboard and may deliver live class sessions at your scheduled class time through Blackboard Collaborate Ultra.

V1, V2, and V3 classifications are for classes that were already created as online classes prior to COVID-19.

• V1 – 100% online requiring no face-to-face or online live sessions
• V2 – 100% online with one or more synchronous online live sessions
• V3 – A blend of a minimum of 50% online sessions (asynchronous or synchronous) and requirement of one or more face-to-face meetings

Where do I find my course schedule?

To see your course schedule, log in to your FlashLine account and go to the Student > Resources > Courses and Registration and choose “View or Print Course Schedule and Purchase Textbooks.”

How do I understand my course schedule?

Below is a sample schedule with explanations to help you understand how to read your class schedule. If you have any further questions about your schedule, contact your academic advisor for assistance. 

Sample Schedule explanations

1. Your name is hyperlinked to your addresses and phone numbers on record for you.  
2. Your Kent State ID number is unique to you and nine digits.
3. Term is the semester and year for this course schedule. 
4. Total credit hours are for courses registered in that term.
5. Deadlines for you to add, drop or withdraw from your scheduled courses and a percentage of tuition credits for that action on a specific date.
6. Details for the course include the CRN (course registration number), which is the unique identifier for your course section this term, course subject and number (e.g., MATH 11010) followed by the section of that course (e.g., -001) and course title.
7. Campus on which the course will be offered in person or via remote or online instruction are abbreviated as AC (Ashtabula Campus), EC (East Liverpool Campus), GC (Geauga Campus – also includes Twinsburg Center), KC (Kent Campus – also includes Independence location), SA (Salem Campus), ST (Stark Campus), TR (Trumbull Campus) and TU (Tuscarawas Campus).
8. Instructional method for each course is one of the following:
   •    Traditional are in-person courses where the instructor and students will meet in person or via remote instruction due to COVID-19.
    •    100% Online-No Set Meet Times are fully online courses with no days/times where instructor and students will meet online at the same time (asynchronous).
   •    100% Online-Set Meeting Times are fully online courses with some days/times where instructor and students will meet online at the same time (synchronous).
   •    Partially Online are mostly online courses with some days/times when instructor and students will meet in person.
9. Location of the class delivery:
    •  Building and room on a Kent State campus (e.g., BOW 102). Buildings that begin with “X” are other locations (e.g., XNY is Kent State’s New York City location; XFL is Kent State’s Florence, Italy, location).
   •    Web Course indicates the course is fully online with no on-campus meetings.
   •    Remote indicates the course was originally scheduled to be in person but, due to COVID-19, will be offered remotely.
   •    Off Site is in person at a location other than a Kent State campus.
   •    TBA indicates the location has not yet been scheduled.
10. Days and times the class will be meeting for instruction, either in person or remotely, are abbreviated as M (Monday), T (Tuesday), W (Wednesday), R (Thursday), F (Friday), S (Saturday), U (Sunday).
11. Schedule type is the format of the course. Some courses may have only one (e.g., Lecture, Studio); others will have more than one (e.g., Combined Lecture and Lab), which may meet on different days and/or times.
12.  Course status indicates the method of registration. For example, “web registered” means the student registered for the course through Kent State’s online registration system. This status does not mean the course will be offered online.
13. Some courses have a special fee that is addition to tuition and other fees.

How do I change my schedule?

To change your schedule, log in to your FlashLine account and go to the Student > Resources > Courses and Registration. If you want courses offered only in a remote instruction, select “Remote” in the location drop-down menu. If you need assistance in updating your schedule, please reach out to your academic advisor. New students who attended summer orientation will need to contact their advisor directly for schedule changes.

What should I consider before changing my schedule?

It is important when making any change(s) to your schedule that you ensure that the course(s) you are taking will count toward your program and degree requirements. You can do so by reaching out to your academic advisor to discuss any changes you are considering.  Schedule an appointment with an academic advisor.
 
 

What is a remote course, and how is it different from an online course?

At Kent State University, the term “remote” reflects a new scheduling category created post-COVID-19. A remote course is one that was originally scheduled to be taught in an in-person format but is now being taught remotely using a web-based platform. Remote courses differ from courses formally designated as “online” in that the online category existed pre-COVID-19.

Both remote and online courses can be delivered synchronously, asynchronously or in a combination of both.

Synchronous

Synchronous learning takes place in real time; the instructor, you and your classmates are present in the same virtual place at the same time. Methods of synchronous remote or online learning include video conferencing, live chatting, virtual group or teamwork, and livestreaming lectures.

Asynchronous

Asynchronous learning has no real-time interaction; the instructor, you and your classmates engage in the exchange of ideas and information on your own schedules. Methods of asynchronous remote or online learning include lesson modules with self-guided activities, streaming video content, virtual libraries, posted lecture notes, and conversations across discussion boards or social media platforms, among others.

On one end of the teaching spectrum is fully asynchronous instruction in which your entire learning experiences typically will revolve around materials that can be accessed on your own time (though often within a set time frame with deadlines for specific assignments). At the other end of the spectrum is fully synchronous instruction with you participating in live learning experiences, lectures, discussions and/or team activities throughout the course. However, these are the extremes, and instructors teaching remote courses can use any combination of asynchronous and synchronous instruction. Any synchronous learning will take place on the meeting days and times listed on your course schedule. 

Hundreds of Kent State instructors have engaged in training over the summer to enhance their ability to teach these remote courses. Individual instructors know their subject matter, and they have a strong sense of students’ abilities and challenges. Instructors are also keenly aware of their own strengths and limitations in various teaching formats and modalities. Your instructors will choose the format and modality best suited to their teaching strengths, student learning and the content of their courses.

If you are enrolled in a remote course, you can expect to receive communication from your instructor before the start of the semester indicating the amount of asynchronous versus synchronous learning activities. Faculty will be available for guidance, either by meeting face-to-face while practicing the safety principles or by scheduling to meet remotely,.

How will I know if my course is being offered in person, in a remote format or some mix of the two?

If any of your courses are being offered in a wholly remote instruction format, your schedule will indicate “remote course” under location. 

REMOTE COURSE

If any of your courses are being offered entirely or partially in person, your schedule will indicate a classroom under location. 

CLASSROOM UNDER LOCATION

You can expect to receive communication from your instructor before the start of the semester letting you know if the course will be a mix (or hybrid) of remote and in-person instruction. An example of a hybrid remote/in-person course is having half of the students attending class in person on one day and the other half attending class in person on another day. Students not attending in person on that day may still be participating through livestreaming, or they may be completing other activities, such as viewing recorded materials, working on assignments and other activities intentionally designed to meet the learning outcomes of the course.

How was the decision made to make some classes remote and allow others to be in person?

The need to practice physical distancing on campus radically reduced the capacity of our classrooms. The decision was made to move all courses with large enrollments (50+ students) to remote instruction. Kent State then identified the courses that simply could not be offered remotely given the need for special equipment (e.g., labs, studios, clinical settings). These courses were prioritized for in-person instruction and hybrid in-person/remote instruction. Individual colleges and Regional Campuses then prioritized their remaining courses for in-person instruction and, where possible, identified appropriate classrooms in which to schedule them. Therefore, the number of in-person classes versus remote classes that you will experience will vary depending on your major, class selection, class standing and campus.

Will I be charged extra fees for remote courses?

If a course was originally intended to be delivered in person and now will be delivered remotely due to COVID-19, you will not be charged an additional fee. However, if your course was always scheduled as fully or partially online, you will be assessed the usual distance-learning fee.

Why am I paying an out-of-state fee when all of my classes are remote?

The Board of Trustees approved tuition rates for the 2020-2021 year during its June meeting. There are no increases in tuition for returning students and tuition for incoming freshmen will be frozen for four years under our Tuition Guarantee. Tuition rates are available at www.kent.edu/tuition. Non-Ohio residents pay an out-of-state surcharge in addition to tuition. Residing out-of-state, non-Ohio residents do not pay taxes to the state of Ohio. Ohio residents already subsidize tuition costs at state universities via their state taxes.

Why are there days and times showing with my remote classes?

The days and times showing for your remote classes are to accommodate any synchronous learning activities planned by your instructor for the course. Synchronous learning takes place in real time; the instructor, you and your classmates are present in the same virtual place on the days and times listed on your schedule. That is different from asynchronous instruction in which your entire learning experiences typically will revolve around materials that can be accessed on your own time.

You can expect to receive communication from your instructor before the start of the semester letting you know if the course will be fully synchronous, fully asynchronous or a combination of both.

My classes are scheduled to be in person, but I am unable to be on campus because of an underlying condition or extenuating circumstance. What can I do?

Tell us about your situation via this pandemic adjustment request form. You will be contacted by a Kent State staff member to discuss and determine appropriate next steps. 

How will the remote instruction be different in the fall semester than it was in the spring semester?

The switch to remote course delivery in spring 2020, although necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was admittedly disruptive in some cases. Both faculty and students needed to quickly adjust and adapt to this new way of teaching and learning.

In preparation for summer and fall classes, hundreds of Kent State instructors participated in training through the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Office of Continuing and Distance Education and are better positioned to deliver quality instruction and engage students in that kind of remote learning environment. If you are having difficulty with any remote delivery classes, please contact your instructor for assistance.

How can I be successful in remote classes?

Kent State has provided strategies for becoming a successful online student that include having the right technology and tools, managing your time, being prepared and creating a productive workspace.

Additionally, students who need assistance learning how to navigate remote and online classes, can sign up for free coaching.