51Թ

FAQ Archive

Faculty Academic Information- Fall 2020- Spring 2021

Academic Continuity & Technology for Courses: Questions and answers

What is academic continuity?

Academic continuity refers to the continuation of courses (programs, degrees). In the case of an on-campus emergency (weather, pandemic), academic continuity for classes on campus may not be able to be ensured unless other teaching modalities, including remote delivery, are considered.

Where do I access resources related to academic continuity?

The Office of Continuing and Distance Education has developed a set of resources for additional information.

Who do I contact with questions related to academic continuity and instructional support?

Contact keeponteaching@kent.edu

Note:

  • Information on remote instruction for students, including access instructions and technology resources, is at www.kent.edu/keeponlearning.
  • For technology issues, contact TechHelp by either submitting a support ticket or via Live Chat with support staff. You can also call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 330-672-HELP. 

Technology for Courses: What if I have questions or need support

  • Reach out to your professor quickly if you are experiencing difficulty with technology or course content. If you have issues directly related to your coursework, contact your instructor.
  • Regularly check  or for your course because it is the primary platform used to help you stay current in your coursework. Most all of the instructions and tools you will need to complete your course will be housed in Blackboard or Canvas.
    • If your instructor decides to hold live videoconferencing (synchronous) class sessions, these will be held at your scheduled class time. The link to the videoconference room will be posted in Blackboard. Collaborate Ultra or Microsoft Teams will generally be the software used. You should check with your course for instructions on communication from your professor. Please remember that your course is a work-in-progress. You should check-in regularly to view updates. Unless otherwise instructed, 51Թ email will be the preferred means of communication
    • Find information on how to use these tools.
  • Additional resources for courses delivered through remote instruction are available on the Keep on Learning website
  • If you have technical problems, contact TechHelp by either submitting a Support Ticket or by talking with our support team via LiveChat at . You can also call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 330-672-HELP.

Emergency funding for technology-based needs:

  • 51Թ understands the financial hardships this pandemic has inflicted on some of our students, and since spring, we have supported thousands of students to address their personal hardships via the 51Թ Emergency Grant Fund. We are excited to announce that students can use this emergency funding for technology-based needs, whether to purchase a computer, a hotspot or another technology-based item to help students succeed in the classroom. If you qualify and demonstrate financial need, these emergency funds may be used to purchase the equipment. 
  • The fund is open to degree- or certificate-seeking students currently enrolled in the Fall 2020 Semester who have been affected by the pandemic and have emergency needs. Fall 2020 Semester grant fund applications now include a specific option to choose technology assistance.
Committees: Will my work on department, college and university committees continue?

I serve on several departmental/college/university committees. Will this work continue?

Academic administrators, faculty governance bodies, and other committees have been asked to assess and prioritize their essential work with a focus on student success and maintaining personnel and other processes on which the university depends (e.g., some work may continue as planned; some work may be modified or slowed; some work may be temporarily suspended).

Faculty are encouraged to continue to participate in their service responsibilities via appropriate virtual environments provided by the department/school, campus, college and university, to the extent possible.

Given the unique challenges created by the COVID-19 disruption, the Ad Hoc Academic Continuity Committee recommends a holistic approach to the evaluation of faculty in the performance of their service responsibilities to both the university and their disciplines which acknowledges both the challenges and the successes of each faculty member’s role in in these activities.

Expectations for Students: Illness-related questions and answers

Student or Family Illness Due to COVID-19

How do I handle a student illness due to COVID-19 pandemic?

Find guidance for instructors to be flexible in requesting documentation for a student absence when students are ill.

Due to COVID-19 and the impact on students and families, we continue to ask instructors to be flexible in requesting documentation around student absences when a student is ill and also apply that same flexibility in other academic situations. For example, when students request an incomplete for extenuating circumstances, they also need to provide appropriate documentation; however, appropriate documentation is at the discretion of the instructor and academic unit, and an email from the student or the student’s caregiver may be sufficient in most situations.

What Do I Do If Students Are Too Sick to Participate?

Flexibility will be key in helping students while the campus is closed and/or classes are remote. Even though the student does not have to physically come to class, they still may be too ill to fully participate in the virtual class.

Student illness should be handled according to existing university policy, with the acknowledgment that this is an extraordinary event and additional consideration may be warranted. Visits to the doctor to get documentation may be difficult to obtain. You may want to consider changing, delaying or even canceling some assignments and/or tests.

How Should Instructors Work With Student Requests to Stay Home from Class Due to a Minor Illness?

Instructors are encouraged to use flexibility and judgment when considering whether to request documentation when students indicate they have the flu or a virus. Find information from the Center for Teaching and Learning related to how to handle student absences due to a minor illness.

What if a student indicates they have to take care of a family member due to the COVID-19 pandemic and this affects classwork?

Due to COVID-19 and the impact on students and families, we continue to ask instructors to be flexible in requesting documentation around student absences and also consider the impact that other family responsibilities may have. For example, K-12 and daycare closings and family illnesses may have a negative impact on students. Instructors should apply flexibility in other academic situations. When students request an incomplete for extenuating circumstances, they also need to provide appropriate documentation; however, appropriate documentation is at the discretion of the instructor and academic unit, and an email from the student may be sufficient in most situations.

Additional Information

Find information about COVID Response Team occurrences, reporting and testing at 51Թ.

Faculty Evaluations: Questions and answers

How are thesis and dissertation defenses being conducted?

They are being conducted remotely through Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other platforms. For guidelines please also see https://www-s3-live.kent.edu/s3fs-root/s3fs-public/file/Temporary%20Guidelines%20for%20Thesis%20and%20Dissertation%20Defenses_1.pdf

How will SSIs be used this semester?

Because of the highly unusual circumstances under which everyone is operating this semester, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee has decided that we will continue to deploy SSIs; however, only instructors will receive SSI results. SSI results shall not be part of the evaluation for personnel decisions including but not limited to reappointment, tenure, promotion, renewal of appointment, and merit (hyperlink to document from faculty senate exec)

I am a pre-tenure tenure-track faculty member. Will I be able to extend my tenure clock due to the disruption of my research activities?

51Թ recognizes that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought about major disruptions in the lives of our faculty that may temporarily prevent or interrupt their scholarly productivity and achievements. This problem is especially acute for those faculty members in their probationary period who are working towards tenure. Therefore, the university is making available an extension to the tenure-clock by one academic year, for eligible tenure-track faculty members.
 

Office Hours: Questions and answers

Office Hours & Expectations: How Are They Impacted by COVID-19?

Your students must have the opportunity to meet with you to discuss any issues, concerns, or questions they may have. University Policy 6-18.101. While the policy specifies that instructors teaching face-to-face should hold in-person office hours, in these special circumstances, it is recommended that you hold office hours remotely. You should offer office hours in person only if the Flashes Safe Eight principles can be followed. If you are teaching remotely, you are strongly encouraged to hold at least some remote office hours. In general, you should meet remotely with any student who prefers that modality.

How do I hold remote office hours?

When you hold office hours remotely, students must be able to communicate with you synchronously. At a minimum you could be available to receive and respond to student emails in real time during regularly scheduled times. For more direct communication, you can make yourself available to students by phone or in a virtual office using BlackBoard Collaborate Ultra, Zoom, Microsoft Teams or another similar platform. This may be done during regularly scheduled times or using an appointment system, provided the required minimum number of hours of availability is maintained.

How do I hold office hours in person? 

Instructors must model safe behavior for students by observing the Flashes Safe Eight principles during class and office hours. In particular, you should hold office hours in person only if all of the following conditions apply:

  • The office space is clean and sanitized.
  • Physical distancing guidelines will be strictly enforced in all offices, requiring individuals to maintain a required amount of space between others, which may vary from 3 feet to 6 feet in different settings. In particular, instructors sharing offices should coordinate their schedules so that physical distancing can be maintained.
  • The best practice would be to ensure that a facial covering is close by in case you are approached by a colleague or a visitor. For up-to-date information on facial covering requirements, please see Facial Covering and Physical Distancing Guidelines.

If your office does not meet these criteria, you may try to reserve an alternate space on campus to meet with students or hold your office hours remotely.
 

Proposals: IRB and grant questions and answers

Can I still submit IRB proposals?

Yes, the Office of Research Compliance and Institutional Review Boards are operating as usual within the guidelines set by the university. Response time may be slower than usual; we appreciate your understanding.

Please use the self-determination form if you think your study may be a level I/exempt project. The online form and guidance can be accessed under the applications tab at /research/office-research-compliance/irb-forms. The use of this form will greatly improve handling and processing time.

Please email your IRB application to the IRB reviewer in your college/department for review.

Questions may also be directed to researchcompliance@kent.edu.

Is the office of Sponsored Programs open to assist with grant proposals?

The physical offices in Michael Schwartz are empty, but Sponsored Programs remains fully staffed and available to assist with your proposal submissions and post-award requests. The entire staff continues to work full time remotely. We will respond to your phone calls and emails.

The best way to contact RASP is by email. If you are planning to submit a proposal, please contact Diane Skok at: dskok@kent.edu.

Post Award questions should be addressed directly to Beverly Robertson, Associate Director for Post Award at: brobert1@kent.edu. If you have been working directly with a Sponsored Programs Administrator you may reach out to that person directly. Everyone is closely monitoring email. When working directly with a particular Sponsored Programs staff member on a time sensitive proposal submission you may be provided with alternate contact information in order to facilitate communication.

Most agencies continue to adhere to their proposal submission deadlines – and we continue to work with investigators to meet those deadlines. If RASP learns of a deadline change they will let you know.

The RASP internal deadline policy for proposal submission has not changed:

*Notify Sponsored Programs 10 business days prior to the agency deadline (earlier is even better!)

*Complete budget and KUALI tasks 5 business days prior to the agency deadline

*Submit all proposal narrative documents in near final form 2 business days prior to the agency deadline.

Remote Course Content, Requirements and Support: Questions and answers

What is the best way to document the changes I made to my course content and requirements?

It is important that you document changes that you make to your course and provide students with a revised syllabus as soon as possible. You should also send any changes you make to your syllabus to your chair, director, or dean.

How does the 51Թ Library support remote teaching?

  • for immediate assistance.
  • Search our digital collections through .
  • Find  or through our databases.
  • for help providing required course readings.
  • with your subject librarian.

Check University Libraries’ COVID-19 Support Page for more information.

  • University Libraries:
  • Ask Us:
  • Discovery@KentState:
  • Journals:
  • Journal articles:
  • Course Reserves:
  • Research consultations and online instruction:
  • Statistical consulting:
  • Libraries’ COVID page:

What are the minimum faculty expectations for teaching remotely?

All courses carrying university credit require instructors/student interaction which is appropriate to the discipline and the course. The minimal expectation of instructors/student interaction should be analogous to the amount of instructors/student interaction that takes place during the course when it is delivered in a synchronous environment (i.e., “face-to-face”). Instructors may implement one or more active instructor/student interactive methods in a remote platform, including but not limited to:

i. synchronous or asynchronous lectures and/or discussion;
ii. student communications via email, open forums or discussion boards;
iii. sessions for synchronous or asynchronous demonstrations;
iv. collaborative team/group work;
v. simulations; and/or
vi. Q&A sessions.

Instructors should select and implement remote platforms which are appropriate to the discipline and the activity for these interactions, including but are not limited to:

i. chat rooms,
ii. email,
iii. open forum and discussion boards,
iv. audio and video conferencing applications,
v. web conferencing, and/or
vi. other synchronous or asynchronous collaboration tools.

What if I am ill and cannot continue to teach remotely?

If you begin to experience flu-like symptoms, you should immediately inform your chair/director/dean. While you may be able to teach through the symptoms, you want to prepare for the possibility that you will become too ill to continue teaching remotely. If you aren’t using BlackBoard to enter your grades, you should send an updated copy of your gradebook and syllabus for each class to your chair/director/dean. If you have class assignments or exams that have not already been shared with your students, post those to BlackBoard or send a copy to your chair/director/dean. If possible, recommend to your chair/director/dean a colleague who would be qualified to take over your course.

What if I am asked by my chair/director/dean or a colleague to take over a course for a colleague who has become too ill to continue teaching remotely?

If an academic unit determines that an instructor is needed to cover a course for another instructor, instructors who may be interested in accepting such an assignment will be informed about the assignment and then decide whether they are willing and able to take over the course. If you decide that you are not willing or able to cover the course, inform your academic unit administrator of your decision immediately.

While it is not uncommon for instructors to agree to cover a course for a short period of time for a colleague who is out of town or ill, being asked to take over a colleague’s course who has become too ill to finish out the semester is a significant departure from this usual practice.

Instructors agreeing to take over another instructor’s course for a substantial period of time (more than 2.5-3 contact hours) should be suitably compensated. (The same is true where taking over a course for a short period would require extensive preparation on the part of the substitute instructor.) Academic units should first consult their Faculty Handbooks for guidance concerning these situations. The workload section and/or other sections of Faculty Handbooks may provide established parameters and processes for how academic units should handle such situations and how to calculate appropriate compensation for substitute instructors. In the absence of guidance in the Faculty Handbook, compensation could include but not be limited to: overload pay, revised responsibilities, or workload credit that can be used at an agreed upon time. In all situations, compensation for additional assigned responsibilities must comply with the terms and conditions of the applicable collective bargaining agreements and other employment contracts.

Do I need to keep the same schedule for my course if I teach a course originally scheduled face-to-face, or can I adjust my schedule?

If you are holding synchronous class sessions via BlackBoard Collaborate Ultra, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or other similar platform, those meetings must be held during the time originally scheduled for your course. Scheduling synchronous class sessions for any other times is likely to conflict with your students’ other classes and personal commitments.

Can I just deliver all of my course content asynchronously?

Faculty may deliver all or part of their course content asynchronously. Asynchronous delivery has many advantages for students, including avoiding technological issues that can happen “in the moment”. In addition, it allows students to review material as often as they need to do so in order to learn what is being covered. It is still highly desirable to establish a connection with students in the course. This may take many forms, such as sending encouraging emails, sharing videos and other ways to show concern for students’ wellbeing and to decrease psychological distance.

Remote Exams: Questions and answers

What are the options for delivering exams?

There are many options for delivering exams and assignments (see the Keep On Teaching: How Do I page at www.kent.edu/onlineteaching/how-do-i for further information). One of the most common options is to create an exam in Blackboard or Canvas. Exams may be proctored using Proctorio (see www.kent.edu/proctoring). If a faculty member is delivering short answer or essay questions, they may wish to consider creating an assignment instead. This allows the instructor to collect all written exams in a central location, to grade these questions in the same location within Blackboard/Canvas and, if selected in settings, to use SafeAssign (Blackboard) or TurnItIn (Canvas) to compare student work with an extensive database to prevent plagiarism. Another option for delivering exams include distributing take-home exams and asking students to return them by email.

More on Proctored Testing

Do I still need to give a final exam?

Consistent with Policy 3-01.4, every course requires a final examination. Final examinations can take various formats including a final paper or student presentation. If you are changing the final examination in your course, please ensure that (a) all students are well informed about the changes through a revised syllabus, (b) the change is not negatively affecting any students in the class, or if it potentially affecting some students negatively consider an alternative arrangement for the students who are potentially negatively affected. The Department Chair/School Director should be consulted in making changes to the final examination.

Do I still give my final exam at the original time scheduled?

Consistent with Policy 3-01.4, Final examinations scheduled during Final Exam Week should occur at the time they are scheduled. Thus, if you are giving a synchronous final exam during Final Exam Week, this exam should occur only at the time the exam is scheduled.

What other aspects should I consider when giving a final exam?

In evaluating the length of the exam, particularly in situations where you are using proctoring software (e.g. Proctorio) ensure you allow sufficient time for set-up and for student ID checking.

If exams in your face-to-face class were proctored, and you are now considering an alternative to a proctored exam, please discuss these alternatives in your academic unit before proceeding.

In requiring a student ID, consider that all students have a KSU ID but not all students may have a different type of photo ID. Make sure students are aware well in advance they need to show an ID for the exam and ideally provide multiple options of ID.

If you are changing the final examination in your course, please ensure that (a) all students are well informed about the changes through a revised syllabus, (b) the change is not negatively affecting any students in the class, or if it is potentially affecting some students negatively consider an alternative arrangement for the students who are potentially negatively affected.

In making any changes/modifications to examinations check with SAS about potential accommodations students in your class may need.

What specific aspects should I consider for proctored exams?

If you are delivering a proctored exam in Blackboard or Canvas with Proctorio, consider creating a low-stakes or no-stakes practice quiz with Proctorio for practice and tech troubleshooting prior to a high-stakes exam. Also, consider sharing the following information to prepare your students prior to their first Proctorio assessment.

Top 5 Tips For Your Proctored (Proctorio) Online Exam to Share With Students

  1. Tech Check! Prior to the test/quiz/exam, ensure that and the are installed and current.
  2. Reboot & Refresh. Reboot your computer right before the testing session.
  3. Get the Most from Your WiFi! Because of the larger numbers of Internet users at home, connectivity may be slower than usual at peak times. Right before a test, . If your bandwidth test reports a speed below 1mbps, ask other members of your household to refrain from heavy internet activities (streaming video, downloads, etc.) while you take your test. If it has been a long time since your WiFi router and/or cable modem has been rebooted, a reboot can help improve connectivity as well. Being physically close to the WiFi router often helps too.
  4. During the Exam. When in an exam, allow a few extra moments for graphics and videos to download.
  5. Help & Support! If you need any help with Proctorio, click on the Proctorio extension in Chrome and choose "Live Chat" or visit for chat and email support.
Remote Work Locations: Compliance, access and cybersecurity questions and answers

Since I am working remotely, and I can do that anywhere, am I required to stay in town?

No, you are not required to stay in town. During this time, if you are fulfilling your University responsibilities (e.g., teaching courses, research commitments, service commitments) and other university duties remotely, you are not considered absent from campus. However, if you travel for any reason out of state (or even to known hot spots in the state), please notify your chair/director/dean.

Can faculty and students come into their lab right now?

Faculty or Staff that have been approved as essential personnel by your College Dean and VP for research have lab access. If for any other reason you need access for essential reasons (e.g. obtain research materials that were left in the lab), please contact your Department Chair or School Director. Building access to obtain access to research labs requires approval from your Department Chair/School Director, College Dean, and VP for Research prior to building entry and will only be provided in critical and emergency situations.

ARE THERE CYBERSECURITY PRECAUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED WITH REMOTE DELIVERY?

Yes. It is recommended that faculty use their University issued machine to conduct classes. If using a personal computer, please do not save any sensitive data to your home devices. When interacting with services, such as Banner, that contain sensitive data please use the University's VPN. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an uptick in phishing, hacking attempts, and other malicious behavior. Please be mindful of this. Do not open attachments you are not expecting and do not share your login information with anyone. For more information, please check out this site.

IS MY ONLINE MATERIAL HIPPA AND FERPA COMPLIANT?

Blackboard Learn and Collaborate Ultra platforms do meet the FERPA requirements. Please see here for the . LMS platforms, generally speaking do not meet HIPAA guidelines as they should not be used to house patient data. This is the case for 51Թ’ version of Blackboard Learn and the primary vendors: Learn Ultra, Canvas, and Desire 2 Learn. Blackboard has a statement on HIPAA in section 10.b . Most video conferencing platforms are not HIPAA compliant. Microsoft Teams and the Health Care version of Zoom are HIPAA compliant.
 

Technical Support and SAS: Questions and answers

If I run into technical difficulties, who do I contact?

If you run into technical difficulties, please visit www.kent.edu/it or contact keeponteaching@kent.edu in addition to contacting your college or campus instructional designers and IT support staff for assistance.

Where do I send students for technical support?

If students need technical support, they should contact the HelpDesk (330-672-HELP), submit a request for support or use the Live Chat available at www.kent.edu/it.

How do we account for students with SAS accommodations in a remote environment?

SAS staff are working remotely during regular business hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students or faculty can email sas@kent.edu to set up an appointment or to arrange a phone consultation. There will be no face-to-face proctoring during the period of remote instruction, and all meetings will be conducted by phone or Microsoft Teams. Students can update or send their course accessibility letters using Access KSU using the typical process. Faculty should continue using relevant accommodations, such as extended testing time. SAS will continue to provide interpreters, transcribers, alternative media, and captioning services for students with those accommodations. If you have questions related to student accommodations in your class or if you are unsure of which accommodations will apply to remote instruction, please contact SAS at sas@kent.edu.

I am worried about being able to access online materials because I don’t have reliable internet access at home and/or have a limited data plan. What should I do?

If you do not have internet at home, please do the following: If you are at a regional campus please speak with your Dean first to see if there are options available to you from your technology team at your campus. If not, or if you are at the Kent Campus, the Division of Information Technology has a limited inventory of Internet Hotspots for students and faculty in need. Please submit a request at /ineedtech

General FAQs Related to 51Թ - Spring 2020

What measures did 51Թ put into place in response to COVID-19?

51Թ applauds Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s proactive approach to keeping our state safe during the ongoing spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). On March 12, Gov. DeWine banned all indoor and outdoor events with more than 100 attendees and provided the estimate that the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ohio will likely peak between late April and mid-May. As such, the university implemented a series of actions to slow transmission of the virus, and consistent with recommendations from state health authorities, to limit large gatherings and practice physical distancing. These included:

  • On April 30, 51Թ President Todd Diacon announced the creation Fall 2020 Reopening Committees.
  • On April 27, 51Թ President Diacon sent an email to university faculty and staff discussing how to ensure 51Թ’s future.
  • On April 14, 51Թ invited students, faculty, staff, parents and friends to tune into the virtual Spring Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9, at 11 a.m. EDT at www.kent.edu/commencement. An in-person commencement will be hosted when deemed safe.
  • On April 13, 51Թ canceled all on-campus activities, events, summer camps and conferences sponsored by the university, as well as those sponsored by our community members who use the 51Թ campuses to host their events through July 4.
  • On March 25, 51Թ canceled study-abroad and study-away trips for Summer 2020 and announced that summer offerings during Intersession (May 14-June 3), Summer I (June 4-July 8) and Summer II (June 4-July 29) will be provided by remote instruction (synchronous and asynchronous) only. Moreover, any other scheduled summer course that begins before July 9 will be delivered through remote instruction only.
  • On March 23, 51Թ regretfully announced the cancellation of the May 4 50th Commemoration Weekend events, scheduled to take place May 1-4, 2020. (All other campus events were also canceled at an earlier date.) The announcement indicated that a meaningful virtual May 4 50th Commemoration would be developed, and details would be announced at a later time.
  • Residence halls were closed March 20, at 5 p.m. Check out requirements and special arrangements.
  • On March 17, most buildings were locked.
  • On March 16, at 5 p.m., 51Թ reduced campus operations until further notice. Only a limited number of employees will be asked to report to their campus. Areas requiring at least a minimal physical presence on campus include health services, public safety, information technology, residence services, dining services, mail services, facilities and a few research laboratories. Units designated for on-campus service will operate with limited staff in rotation.
  • On March 15 information was shared about an employee at 51Թ who has been in close proximity to a person who tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). This employee is in isolation for 14 days and is being tested for COVID-19. These measures are in effect. Read the full email. Since that time the employee tested negative.
  • 51Թ announced a modified spring semester schedule to slow transmission of the virus and consistent with recommendations from state health authorities to limit large gatherings and practice physical distancing, 51Թ is taking the following preventative and proactive actions:
    • March 10-15: Face-to-face classes canceled.
    • March 16-20: Classes will be held via remote instruction.
    • March 23-29: Spring break will occur as scheduled.
    • March 30-End of Spring Semester: Classes will be held via remote instruction.
  • The university is following the 

    • Stay home for 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread, ongoing community spread (Level 3 Travel Health Notice countries) and practice physical distancing.
      Take these steps to monitor your health and practice physical distancing:

      • Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever. Also watch for cough or trouble breathing.

      • Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work or school for this 14-day period. Discuss your work situation with your employer before returning to work.

      • Do not take public transportation, taxis or ride-shares during the time you are practicing physical distancing.

      • Avoid crowded places (such as shopping centers and movie theaters) and limit your activities in public.

      • Keep your distance from others (about 6 feet or 2 meters).

    • If you get sick with fever (100.4°F/38°C or higher), cough, or you have trouble breathing:

      • Seek medical care. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room.

      • Tell your doctor about your recent travel and your symptoms.

      • Avoid contact with others.

    • For additional questions on monitoring your health, .

  • We have suspended Education-Abroad programming in Florence, Italy, for spring 2020. Find updates and answers to FAQs.
  • 51Թ practice does not allow travel to, or through, countries listed at a warning level 3 on the CDC travel notice rubric. As such, scheduled Spring Break trips to Italy (CDC level 3 travel warning) and Vietnam (the flight passes through South Korea, which is also at a CDC level 3 travel warning) have been canceled. If or when additional countries are assigned a Level 3 travel warning by the CDC, the university will cancel trips to, or through, those countries up to the day of departure.
  • Individuals visiting The DeWeese Health Center are being screened during their appointment for recent international travel and will be asked about their health and travel history.
  • The DeWeese Health Center is providing flu shots to those who need them. Anyone who has not received a flu vaccine this season should consider getting the vaccine. To find more information about flu shots or to schedule an appointment, call 330-672-2322.
  • University leaders, including those from the DeWeese Health Center, the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of the Provost and the Department of Public Safety, are actively monitoring developments around the coronavirus, and coordinating campus resources, responses and communications.
  • Crews continue to clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces and restrooms in university buildings, residence halls, recreation facilities and the Kent Student Center.
  • The Office of the Provost is working with students and faculty to provide online learning solutions for students who returned from study abroad early.
Will campus events be canceled, including commencement?

Spring & Early Summer Events

  • Events scheduled for campus locations through the end of the semester are canceled to avoid creating large gatherings.
  • No additional on-campus events will be scheduled through July 4. Virtual events will be an option.

Spring Commencement

  • 51Թ students, faculty, staff, parents and friends are invited to tune into the virtual ceremony on Saturday, May 9, at 11 a.m. EDT at www.kent.edu/commencement. An in-person commencement will be hosted when deemed safe.

May 4 50th Commemoration

 

 

Will the May 4 50th Commemoration Weekend events be canceled?

51Թ regretfully announces cancellation of the May 4 50th Commemoration Weekend events, scheduled to take place May 1-4, 2020.

  • All on campus events have been canceled and are not being rescheduled.
  • Event refunds have been processed, and will be posted to accounts within 5 to 7 business days.
  • For the safety of all, and to comply with restrictions on public gatherings indoors and outdoors, the university asks visitors to reschedule their plans, visiting the May 4 National Historic Landmark site only after the national public health emergency has passed and the university has resumed on-campus operations.
  • Virtual Commemoration
    • In keeping with the commitment to honor and remember the events of May 4, 1970, 51Թ will have an online “virtual” program to mark the 50th Commemoration with a variety of online videos, exhibits and learning resources. A variety of special content will be available on the May 4 50th Commemoration website beginning Friday, May 1. At that time, the website will also share details about a virtual candlelight vigil.
    • This online program will honor and remember Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Schroeder who were killed and nine other 51Թ students who were wounded on May 4, 1970, when the Ohio National Guard fired on students during an anti-war protest.
    • May 4 50th Commemoration Contact Information

View information about the virtual May 4 50th Commemoration

Will theater and dance performances be canceled?

All scheduled Glauser School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance events are cancelled through the end of spring semester and ticket sales to all College of the Arts events are suspended for the time being. If you have already purchased a ticket to an event during this time frame, refunds are currently being processed.

General Student FAQs - Spring & Summer 2020

Are refunds being issued for residence halls, dining and parking?

Who will be eligible for a refund for on-campus housing, dining and parking?

  • On-campus Housing: All students who completed the check-out procedure by March 30, 2020 at 5 p.m. will be eligible for a refund.
  • Dining: Dining plans feature meal swipes and declining balance dollars. All students with a meal swipes feature will be eligible to receive a refund.
  • Parking: All students who purchased a parking permit for the Spring 2020 semester will be eligible to receive a prorated refund.

How much should I expect my refund to be?

The university will be issuing refunds for housing, dining and parking for the Spring 2020 semester. The refunds will be calculated as follows:

  • On-campus Housing: The amount of the refund varies depending on your room type and cohort. All students that completed the housing check-out procedure by March 30 at 5 p.m. will be eligible to receive a refund. The refund is calculated based on the daily rate for the days remaining on the contract after March 21, 2020.
  • Dining: Student meal plans feature meal swipes as well as declining balance dollars. Students will be given a refund for the value of the unused meal swipes as of March 21, 2020. The refund is calculated based on the services days remaining for AYCTE facilities. Consistent with past practice, declining balance dollars will rollover to the next semester. Students that have applied for graduation will receive a refund for their remaining declining balance dollars.
  • Parking: The amount of the refund for student parking permits will be based on the number of days in the semester after March 30, 2020.

Please note that if scholarship funding was awarded for room and board it will be adjusted consistent with the pro-rated cost of the room and board

How will my refund be processed?

Your refund will post to your Student Account prior to April 30, 2020. If your student account has an outstanding balance, your refund will be reduced by this amount. Student account credit balances will be issued as a refund through the normal refund process. Please visit the One Stop for Student Services website for more information about student refunds. Access additional information about student refunds.

Will commuter meal plans be refunded?

Yes, for the daily value of meal swipes. The unused declining balance dollars will rollover to the next semester.

Can students get their declining meal plan balance refunded back to them instead of having them rollover?

Declining balance will only be refunded to graduating seniors and graduate students. The normal practice is for the remaining balance to rollover to the next semester

I will be attending/transferring to another institution in the fall. How do I get my declining meal plan balance refunded back to me?

Students who will not be attending 51Թ in the fall can apply for a refund of their declining balance by completing the “.”

I will be doing an internship in the fall. How do I get my declining meal plan balance refunded back to me?

Students that are completing internships can apply for a refund of their declining balance by completing the “.”&Բ;

All petitions are granted at the sole discretion of University Dining Services and the Division of Student Affairs.

I will be transferring to one of 51Թ’s Regional Campus. Can I use my declining meal plan balance at the Regional Campuses?

Declining balance can be used at all Regional Campuses except the Geauga Campus.

Can 51Թ hold my housing/meal plan credit for future terms?

All refunds as a result of housing, dining and parking credits will be issued directly to students. Students are encouraged to save those refunds to pay against their future term

I am an international student who has already gone back home. How will I get my student refund issued to me?

Students need to . Refunds can then be wired from your domestic bank to your non-domestic bank account. 

What if I have questions about Residence Services? (Updated March 15, 2020)

Are the residence halls open?

Updated: the residence halls will close on March 20, 2020. You can access your room until March 20 at 5:00 p.m. If you need to enter the hall after this time, you must make arrangements by contacting housing@kent.edu. As previously shared, if you officially checkout of your residence hall room by March 30, 2020 by 5:00 p.m., you are eligible for a refund. Details regarding room and board refunds are still being determined and will be provided at a later date.

Can I still access my hall/room?

Updated: You can access your room until March 20, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. If you are unable to return to your permanent residence or an alternative housing arrangement by this date, you must submit a The request is not guaranteed and will most likely require you to move to a different residence hall location to support necessary preventative measures. Residence Services will respond to requests on a rolling basis.

What do I do if I am locked out of my room?

If you are locked out of your room through March 20, 2020 at 5:00 p.m., you can use the CBORD Mobile ID app to unlock your room door while on campus. Information on how to install and access the app can be found here: /housing/access. If installing the app is not possible, call (330) 672-3244 for assistance.

If I go home, will I receive a refund or discount on my housing?

The residence halls close on March 20, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. If you officially checkout of your residence hall room by March 30, 2020 by 5:00 p.m., you are eligible for a refund. Details regarding room and board refunds are still being determined and will be provided at a later date.

Does the date I checkout affect my refund?

If you officially checkout of your residence hall room by March 30, 2020 by 5:00 p.m. you are eligible for a refund. There is no incentive for moving out before this date. We know some students will need this full time to plan for their move.

Do I need to un-loft my bed before I checkout of my room?

If you can, please do but it is not necessary. Students will not be charged for leaving their beds lofted.

How do I checkout of my room?

Once all of your belongings are removed from your room, . This will act as your official checkout from the residence halls. This checkout link must be completed by March 30, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. to be eligible for a refund.

What if I cannot leave campus?

If you are unable to return to your permanent residence or an alternative housing arrangement, you can submit a Residence Services will respond to requests on a rolling basis.

Can someone pick up my belongings for me?

Yes, we will allow arrangements for this if we have written consent from all occupants of the room. Contact (330) 672-7000 or (330) 672-3244 for whom to send the written consent. From there we will coordinate access and the process for entering the hall with the individuals involved.

Are moving carts available?

Yes, we have limited moving carts available at the Area Desk locations.

Are the Area Desks open?

Yes, currently the Area Desks are open 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. These hours will change after March 20, we will do our best to keep the website up to date if changes occur. You can always receive the latest hours by calling (330) 672-3244.

What about my mail and packages?

Mail and packages can be picked up during the hours the Area Desks are open. Currently, the Area Desks are open 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. These hours will change after March 20, we will do our best to keep the website up to date if changes occur. You can always receive the latest hours by calling (330) 672-3244.

Can my package(s) be sent home?

It depends.We are able to forward items shipped through the post office.Packages that are shipped FedEx, DHL, UPS, and most Amazon packages arenotable to be forwarded. We suggest checking your online tracking or with the company you ordered from to see if you can have the shipping information updated. If a package from one of these companies arrives to the desk and we are not able to forward it, we will return it to sender. If you have questions, please contact your Area Desk.

Are the dining halls open?

Dining locations and hours are listed on University Dining Services website.

Will dining hall locations be open during Spring Break?

There will be no dining locations open during the week of Spring Break (March 21 – March 29).

Is Sibs and Kids Weekend still happening? What about my t-shirt order?

Sibs and Kids Weekend is cancelled. T-shirt monies will be refunded. Please email kic@kent.edu if you have questions regarding your refund.

Can I move my car closer to the residence halls?

Students with satellite lot permits (such as Stadium, Summit East, and Allerton Sports Complex permits) are permitted to park on campus in the C lots while in-person classes are cancelled. All other regulations remain in effect.

How do I contact Residence Services if I have questions?

For additional questions regarding housing, please call 330-672-7000 or email housing@kent.edu

Will PARTA still be running on campus for my student to get into town?

PARTA hours and routes will be posted on their website and updates can be found there.

What if I have questions about Dining Services?

Which dining locations are open?

  • Starting March 30 through May 8, Prentice Cafe and Munchies Market will be open Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m.
  • Munchies Market Store section will also be open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • All other dining locations will be closed. 

Will dining hall locations be open during Spring Break?

There will be no dining locations open during the week of Spring Break (March 21 – March 29).

Will my meal plan work during the campus closure?

Yes, your meal plan will still work at open dining locations.

How do I contact Dining if I have questions?

For additional questions regarding to University Dining, please call 330-672-2541 or email dining@kent.edu

How do I pick up my paycheck if I work for University Dining Services?

Paychecks can be picked up as they traditionally are by visiting room 203 in Tri-Towers.
 

What if I have questions about Transportation Services & Parking?

Since the university is closed, are students allowed to park their cars on campus?

Students with a valid permit may park in their assigned lot or in any “C-commuter” lot through the rest of the semester.

If you have any questions, please email parking@kent.edu.

What bus services will be available on campus?

Beginning Monday, March 30, 51Թ campus bus service will be limited to the following bus route:

  • 57 Stadium Loop Route

Will PARTA still be running on campus for my student to get into town?

PARTA hours, routes and updates can be found at their . For more information about campus or county routes, contact PARTA communications and public advocacy advisor Denise Baba at 330-678-7745 or email dbaba@partaonline.org.

How will student employees be affected?

Employment for all students employed during Spring 2020 must end no later than May 9, 2020.

Summer 2020 student employment processing opened on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. Summer student employment requests must be for essential and critical work and only students who will have an adequate workload should be hired.

The following procedures for timekeeping will be followed:

  1. If a student is performing work on-campus (i.e. grounds crew; facilities and maintenance), the student should use Empower to clock in and out for each work session.
  2. If a student is working remotely, the student should record the date, start time,and end time for each work session and submit it to their supervisor via email at the end of the work week. Using Empower, supervisors should enter the student’s punch in and punch out for each day worked and note once in the comment section: “Student is remote”.
What if I have questions about Recreational Services?

When will Recreational Services facilities be closed?

All Recreational Services facilities are closed from Tuesday, March 10, at 5 p.m. until the end of spring semester. This closure includes the Beverly J. Warren Student Recreation & Wellness Center and the KSU Ice Arena.

Will I get a refund for my membership and/or parking permit?

You will not be charged for your membership during the closure period. Recreational Services will process all refunds, prorations, and adjustments to memberships, including payroll deductions, auto-debits, and other payment types.

Can I get my items or belongings out of my locker?

Members should email recservices@kent.edu to coordinate a mutually acceptable time to retrieve personal items from their locker.

What happens to my rental/facility reservation?

All rentals and facility reservations during the scheduled closure are canceled. The Recreational Services staff will contact you to reschedule or process a refund.

Will my program be rescheduled?

All attempts will be made to reschedule activities and programs as the university schedule permits. Please contact the program coordinators listed below for additional information.

Will program refunds be offered?

Program refunds will be considered on a case by case basis. You should contact the specific program area coordinator for additional information.

As a SilverSneaker member, can I attend another facility?

SilverSneaker members can find other participating locations on their website at

Whom should I contact for additional information?

Aquatics - Learn to Swim: David Taylor, dmtaylo2@kent.edu PEAK Summer Camp: Josh Dietrich, jdietr12@kent.edu Club Sports: Greg Bailey, gbailey@kent.edu Membership: Nick Barber, nbarber4@kent.edu Ice Arena: Bill Switaj, wswitaj@kent.edu Adventure Center: Chris Lukas, clukas@kent.edu Intramural Sports: Josh Dietrich, jdietr12@kent.edu Fitness and Group X: Beth Michel, emichel2@kent.edu Operations & Events: Chris Baker, cbaker5@kent.edu.

Summer classes: Will they be remote or in-person?
  • 51Թ will continue with our robust summer offerings during Summer I (June 4-July 8) and Summer II (June 4-July 29) by remote instruction (synchronous and asynchronous) only. Moreover, any other scheduled summer course that begins before July 9 will be delivered through remote instruction only.
  • Summer III classes will primarily be delivered through remote instruction. However, a few courses, as approved by the Provost, will be delivered in person.
  • For questions about summer courses, students should contact the department chair or faculty member of the course.
  • Decisions about clinicals, practica and internships will be made on an ongoing basis in consultation with chairs and directors of the academic program areas.

View the Reopening Phases

Academic FAQs - Spring 2020

Where do I find information regarding course withdrawal dates, pass/fail grades and re-adding a course?
  • The course withdrawal date has been extended to April 28.
  • Students who withdrew from a course between March 10 and April 1 can re-add the class by April .
  • Students can also opt to take many courses for Pass/Fail (deadline is May 18).
  • For more details please visit /coronavirus/grading.
Can I submit both a Pass/Fail request and take an incomplete for the same course?

No, you can choose one or the other, but not both.

  • If you are unsure which might be in your best interest, please reach out to your instructor and discuss an incomplete versus a Pass/Fail.
  • Please keep in mind that an incomplete adds to your workload in a subsequent semester.
    • If you choose an incomplete, your final grade will be a letter grade (A through F) and will be calculated in your GPA.
  • A Pass/Fall will not be calculated in your GPA.
Will nursing, CATS and CPM clinicals continue?

Effective March 13, 2020, all College of Nursing (BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD) clinicals are suspended until April 13, 2020 at which time we will re-evaluate. This includes the BSN at regionals (Stark, Trumbull, Geauga and Salem). For those of you who anticipate a May graduation, we are working to ensure that your graduation will be on time. College of Nursing Students please contact Dr. Tracey Motter (BSN Kent Campus) at 330-672-8784 or Dr. Wendy Umberger (MSN/DNP/PhD Kent Campus) at 330-672-8813. 

College of Applied and Technical Studies Nursing and Allied Health Programs (ADN, Rad Tech, OTA, PTA, and RESP Therapy) clinicals are suspended until further notice.

The College of Podiatric Medicine will continue clinical rotations, in line with all of the colleges of podiatric medicine (CPM) around the country. The continuance of clinical rotations is in compliance with the individual hospital requirements. Most institutions are limiting Podiatric Medical students from treating patients with active respiratory infections.

I am scheduled to defend my dissertation/thesis. How do I proceed?

Given the suspension of face-to-face instruction and mitigation efforts to break the cycle of contagion of the COVID-19 virus, thesis and dissertation defenses and pre-defenses may be held with all members of the committee and the candidate participating remotely. Students who are scheduled to defend their dissertation or thesis prior to April 13 should contact their dissertation/thesis committee chair as soon as possible. Arrangements will be made for your defense to be held remotely. For a copy of our guiding principles and guidelines, go to the Graduate Studies home page.

What is the policy if I'm studying in New York City?

The NYC Studio WILL be following the same schedule as shared by Main Campus in regards to remote instruction.

Important updated NYC Studio specific information:

  • March 16-20: NYC Studio classes will resume via remote instruction, as announced on Tuesday, March 10.
  • March 23-29: Spring break will occur as scheduled.
  • March 30-End of Spring Semester: NYC Studio classes will be held via remote instruction.
  • Studio Access: You may access the Studio next Wednesday, March 18, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. to get your course materials, supplies, personal belongings, etc. All of your belongings should be removed from the Studio during this time.

See the full email with additional details about about key cards, internships, housing and travel..

Are the art studio spaces available to students during the campus closure?

The studio spaces for all students are shared spaces, where it is impossible to abide by social distancing guidelines. This means the art studio spaces are closed and art students’ research will not be possible to take place in the College of the Arts buildings. 

For Faculty: Academic Information - Spring 2020

Grading Options and Grading Deadlines

What changes have been made to University Policies related to grading deadlines and grading options?

The deadline for students to withdraw from classes has been moved to April 28th. In addition, students who withdrew from classes between March 10th and March 30th have the option to re-enroll by April 1st. Finally, the deadline for students to consider whether to take a course for Pass/Fail has been moved to the end of the semester while for many courses that previously were not available for Pass/Fail, students now have the option to take a course for Pass/Fail. More details on these changes can be found at /coronavirus/grading

What do I need to do to ensure a student receives a Pass/Fail grade?

There is nothing you need to do. You will report the regular letter grade. Faculty will only know whether a student has opted for a pass/fail grade if the student chooses to disclose that information to the faculty member.

How will I know whether a student wants to receive a Pass/Fail grade?

You will not know if a student submitted a request to receive a Pass/Fail grade.

Does requesting the Pass/Fail grade mean the student can stop participating (i.e., completing assignments, taking quizzes) before the course has ended?

Whether a student opts for a Pass/Fail grade does not affect how a student is involved in a course. The only document guiding completion of classwork is the course syllabus which outlines what a student needs to do to meet the learning objectives and assessment requirements for the course.

Some instructors explicitly state in their syllabus that all course elements must be completed, and in those cases student would be required to complete all assignments and assessments. However, others do not make that statement and would allow a student the option of not completing some course requirements. For example, an instructor may have regular testing throughout the semester. Collectively, each of the learning objectives may have been assessed during the semester. An instructor may choose to allow students to drop a lowest grade and that might include a cumulative final. The learning objectives have all been assessed, the final may be an opportunity for students to improve their grade, but not necessary for assessment of learning outcomes. In such a case, students could opt not to complete all assignments/assessments. This option may be especially desirable if a student or immediate family member becomes ill.

What if a student withdrew from a class and has now re-enrolled?

Students who withdrew after March 9th are able to re-enroll by April 1st. These students may have missed one or more assignments/exams, and we encourage you to be flexible and work with these students, so they can succeed in your class.
Can all students request the “P/F” grading option?
The P/F grading option is available to most, but not all, students. Students are asked to check /coronavirus/grading, consult with their academic advisor and/or the OneStop or the Student Service Office at their campus.

Do students have to request the “P/F” grading option?

Yes. Students will be required to submit an online application that will be submitted directly to the Office of the Registrar. Requests will be made on a course-by-course basis.

Why are students being allowed to request the “P/F” grading option?

We are making the “P/F” grading option broadly available to students as a result of the unprecedented disruptions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of removing all restrictions of the use of the “P/F” grading option is to reduce students’ uncertainty and stress while encouraging a focus on the successful achievement of student learning outcomes.

Can students change back to a letter grade after they request a “P/F” grading option?

No. One goal of expanding the temporary use of the “P/F” grading option is to decrease students’ uncertainty in the short term and not to prolong their anxiety. We believe requiring a well-informed decision that cannot change back and forth is a way to accomplish this goal for KSU’s high achieving students.

Can a student submit both a Pass/Fail request and take an incomplete for the same course?

No, they must choose one or the other, but not both.

  • You should talk to the student regarding their request to determine which is better for them.
  • Please keep in mind that an incomplete adds to a student’s and your workload in a subsequent semester.
  • If your default grade for the incomplete is a passing grade, then recommend that the student request a Pass/Fail instead of entering into an Incomplete contract.
Addressing Incomplete and Withdrawal Requests

Can students still request an incomplete grade?

Yes. The current plan is to manage incomplete (IN) grades the way you would normally. We strongly encourage you to carefully consider the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and make every effort possible to support students requesting (IN) grades.

What if a student wants to withdraw from my course?

KSU is extending the current deadline for withdrawal to April 28, 2020. You may want to encourage students to wait to make a decision about course withdrawal until closer to the withdrawal deadline. Faculty should caution students that course withdrawal may have a negative impact on a student’s progression and may have negative financial implications, including repayment of federal financial aid, continuing eligibility for scholarships, and may result in ineligibility for certain scholarships in the future. Please encourage students to talk with an advisor and the OneStop or the Student Success Office on their Campus.

© 2025 51Թ All rights reserved.