End of Semester Message - Fall 2020

Dear Faculty Colleagues,  

We did it! Congratulations on a successful semester during this challenging time. I hope you have heard my gratitude for your dedication to your students’ success, support of your colleagues and commitment to your teaching, research, and creative endeavors throughout this academic year. Once again, thank you very much! Today I am writing to share a few reminders regarding the end of the semester.

Guidelines for Final Exams

Please review the Kent State University Administrative Policy and Procedures Regarding Final Examinations (3-01.4). Note that every course requires a final examination, which can take various formats, including a final paper or student presentation. The Academic Continuity Committee provided guidance for final exams for spring 2020 that emphasized if you are changing the nature of the final examination in your course, please ensure that (a) all students are well informed about the changes through a revised syllabus, and (b) the change is not negatively affecting any students in the class. If the change could negatively affect some students, consider an alternative arrangement for those students. Where there are specific academic unit guidelines regarding the format for final examinations, the department chair/school director will inform all instructors of those guidelines.

Also note that final examinations scheduled during final exam week must occur at the time they are scheduled. Thus, if you are administering a synchronous final exam during final exam week, this exam must occur only at the time the exam is scheduled.

Grading

Final grades submission is to be completed in FlashLine. Login to FlashLine and click on the Faculty & Advisors Category / Faculty Dashboard / Grading Resources Section to access the links to submit final grades. The University Registrar has posted helpful Faculty Grades Processing FAQs as well as grade posting deadlines for your convenience. 

For complete information on university grading policies, including IN marks and NF or SF grading policies, procedures, and timelines, please visit the Grading Policies and Procedures section in the University Catalog. If you have any problems accessing FlashLine or need technical assistance, please contact the HELP desk at 330-672-HELP (4357) or via the Online Support Portal at Tech Help. If you have questions about submitting your grades, contact the Registrar's Office at 330-672-3131.

Please note, that due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this fall semester, we have modified the policy regarding Pass/Fail grading for undergraduate and graduate courses taken in Fall 2020.

Blackboard Grade Push

The Grade Push Application is designed to allow for all grades in a section to be pushed from Blackboard Learn to the Final Grades roster at once. The Grade Push application will be active during the final grading window of your course sections. You can access the Grade Push application within FlashLine through the Faculty & Advisors Category / Faculty Dashboard / Grading Resources Section. Grade Push user information is available at support.kent.edu by searching "Grade Push." For more information on processing grades, see the FAQ page on the University Registrar's website.

Universal Online Student Surveys of Instruction (SSIs)

As usual, all course evaluations will now be delivered electronically through Flash Survey. Reports will be available 11 days after the surveys close. Similar to our response to SSIs in relation to the COVID-19 for Spring 2020, reports will be available to faculty only and are not to be used in personnel files, such as those submitted for tenure, promotion, or renewal. 

FERPA

In light of the provisions of FERPA, please preserve and maintain the privacy of your students and their records. Do not ask students to submit assignments in open mailboxes or in unattended, publicly accessible places (e.g., boxes in hallways, envelopes taped to a door), and do not provide graded assignments for student pick-up in public venues. Similarly, do not post grades publicly, and do not link students' names and/or ID numbers in conjunction with grades. 

Student Support

The holidays can be particularly difficult for many of our students. The Step Up and Speak Out website and mobile app provide helpful information on do's and don'ts of dealing with distressed and disruptive individuals and list resources that are available 24 hours per day. If you identify a student who may reasonably pose a potential threat to self, others, or the university, please consult with the Care Team. 

The Care Team is a cross-divisional crisis management committee that collaboratively assesses and coordinates a response in these situations. Referrals to the Care Team may be made quickly by contacting Dr. Taléa R. Drummer-Ferrell (tdrumme1@kent.edu; 330-672-8003), Dean of Students, or Dr. Amy Quillin (aquillin@kent.edu; 330-672-9494), Student Ombuds.

Spring 2021

There are three important changes to course delivery and the academic calendar for spring 2021. As previously communicated at the start of spring semester, only those courses that require special equipment or interactions that cannot be delivered remotely (Tier 1 courses) will begin the semester in-person. Other classes designated to be delivered in-person for the spring semester will begin with remote instruction for the first two weeks and transition to in-person delivery beginning the third week (Tier 2 courses, week of Feb. 1). If you are unsure if your course is a Tier 1 or Tier 2 course, please communicate with your academic unit administrator.   

Spring break has been moved to the week of April 12. All spring classes resume in remote delivery after spring break and until the last day of classes on Tuesday May 4. Final examinations will be offered remotely May 6-12.

Please note that Remembrance Day will be observed Tuesday, May 4 and no synchronous (in-person or remotely delivered) should be held between noon and 2 p.m. 

Also, Wednesday, May 5 will be held as a Reading Day, with no classes held remotely, online or in-person. 

Thank you for all you do. This has been a semester like no other, but your commitment and dedication did not fade. And because of you, our students are making excellent progress toward their degrees, together we have created new knowledge and art, and our community has been supported. I hope you rest and enjoy quality time with family during winter break!

My best,

Melody Tankersley
Senior Vice President and Provost