Fall 2020 Semester Plan

The following plan is based on the known facts and predictions as of June 25, 2020, and is subject to change at any time. The pandemic will be closely monitored for the remainder of the year. CDC, IDPH, and ICCB guidelines will be followed, such as wearing masks, social distancing, wellness checks, etc. Special accommodations may be required. If at any point we reach Phase 5, consideration will be given to lift current restrictions.

Instruction

Fall classes will begin as scheduled as either online or hybrid. Students will not be on campus for the first two days of the semester, August 17 & 18, to allow time for faculty direction via Canvas.

All hybrid classes will meet virtually via Zoom for the first class session at the regularly scheduled date/time. The Zoom meeting ID/link will be placed in Canvas announcements/calendar by the instructor. The session will be recorded and available in Canvas for students who are absent or enroll after the start date. Faculty will give instructions and the schedule for any approved face-to-face (F2F) meetings at that time.

Online courses: 16-week session

The majority of Lecture classes will be offered fully online following the 16-week semester as previously scheduled. The semester midterm and financial aid refund dates will remain as scheduled.

Some Lecture/Lab courses will also be completely online as permitted. Lab requirements for IAI courses have been approved for online delivery during fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters.

Lecture/Lab and Lab courses: 12-week session

All classes with face-to-face (F2F) meetings will be offered as 12-week courses.

A percentage of face-to-face time will be allowed for select courses with a lab component (CTE, art, music, science and dev ed).

All Lab classes will have a combination of online and F2F. The percentage of F2F time will vary depending on the course.

The instructional VP and AVP’s will coordinate and approve F2F meetings including the location, date(s), time, and number of students allowed.

Faculty should prepare to go completely remote at any given time. F2F time should be heavily scheduled during the first 8 weeks of the semester in preparation of a stay-in-place order.

12 week classes will start August 17 and end November 6. Final exams will be held November 9-13, excluding Veterans Day on November 11. Students will not be allowed on campus after November 13.

8-week courses with F2F meetings will change to 6 weeks.

Dual Credit:

Face-to face dual credit classes scheduled at RLC will be available online via Canvas (RLC’s learning management system), if possible. No charge to school/student.

Face-to face dual credit classes scheduled at RLC that cannot be offered completely online will be cancelled, such as auto, CAD and welding. High schools will be provided with alternative online courses as an option. No charge to school/student.

Dual credit classes held at the high school and taught by RLC faculty will be available. These classes will be online via Canvas. It will be up to the faculty member as to whether there will be synchronous class meetings. High schools are invoiced for the instruction.

Dual credit classes held at the high school and taught by high school teachers will be at the discretion of the high school administration. RLC’s online learning management system (Canvas) is available for all dual credit courses.

Other:

All online/hybrid fees are waived

Provide a full refund for courses dropped within the first quarter 16 week courses – 4th week 12 week courses – 3rd week 8 week courses – 2nd week

Financial Aid refund date remains as scheduled

Drop date extended to last day of class

Fun Fest cancelled—students have class as scheduled

In-Service moved from October 13 to the week of November 16. Faculty and staff will be scheduled on different days by department as needed. Students will have class on October 13.

Modes of Instruction for Fall 2020

Online Classes conducted online through Canvas. Students will work through course materials with communication and direction of RLC faculty.

Hybrid Classes meet partially on RLC’s campus and partially online. The percentage of time spent online will vary by course. If needed, classes will be transitioned to fully online.

Hybrid Flex Classes with a combination of online and flexible, hybrid meetings. For class meetings, students may come to campus as assigned or attend remotely. Faculty may also approve students to watch a recorded session in Canvas Studio prior to the next scheduled meeting.



Delivery Methods for Remote Instruction

Synchronous Class meets virtually during scheduled time

Asynchronous Class is recorded for students to watch by posted deadline

Online Instructional materials and assignments posted in Canvas

Virtual Lab Simulation/special software

Hybrid F2F and online

Hybrid Flex F2F/synchronous/asynchronous and online



Fall 2020 Overview of Classes Fall Classes 493 Total Unduplicated Offerings Scheduled as Online 54 16 weeks/8week1/8week2 Move to Online 173 16 weeks/8week1/8week2 Hybrid – Minor (less than 50% F2F) 67 12 weeks/6week1/6week 2 Hybrid – Major (more than 50% F2F) 89 12 weeks/6week1/6week2 All F2F (or need to cancel) 16 14 classes already cancelled OJT/Clinical 25 If site allows students Dual Credit at RLC-Move to Online 11 7 are duplicates included above Dual Credit at RLC-Cancelled 4 Auto/Cad/Weld Dual Credit at HS by RLC-Move to Online 6 4 are duplicates included above Dual Credit at HS 47 Decision to be made by HS Adult Ed & AHA 15 May cancel or schedule more

Timeline

June 25

Notify faculty and staff of plan for fall semester

Notify ICCB and HLC of plan for fall semester

Advisors inform students upon registration re: changes that are coming and that finalized schedules will be mailed the first week of August

Post update regarding fall semester on website

June 29

Direct mailing to students already registered notifying them of changes that are coming (include fall statement)

Notify high schools regarding changes to dual credit

AVP’s work with Deans on F2F meeting requirements using worksheet

VP & AVPs meet with IR/IT; visit classrooms and determine capacity

July 6

Division worksheets due to AVPs

VP & AVPs begin meetings to determine and approve F2F time for each class and assign F2F meeting dates/time/location/students

July 15

Notify deans/faculty of F2F assignments and make changes in PowerCampus

July 27-30

Print student schedules/statement and prepare mailing (include textbook info, announcements, important dates, hot spots, RL-Cares, meningitis letter, etc)

August 3

Mail fall schedules/info to all students

VP & AVPs work with Physical Plant on signage for building entrances/exits and traffic flow, as well as classroom needs (moving furniture, barriers, cleaning and sanitation, etc)

August 10-14

Virtual/Small Group Faculty Orientation and Student Success Day (TBD)

August 17

First day of fall semester

August 17-18

All classes meet virtually—no students on campus

August 18 - November 13

F2F class meetings as scheduled (students look in Canvas for direction)

November 6

Last day of 12-week classes

November 9-13

Final exams for 12-week classes (no exams on November 11 - Veterans Day)

November 16-20

Virtual/Small Group Faculty & Staff In-Service (TBD)

December 4

Last day of 16-week classes

December 7-10

Final exams for 16-week classes

Athletics & Extra-Curricular Activities

Athletics and extra-curricular activities for fall will follow the guidelines of Rend Lake College. Each activity is being evaluated and specific guidance developed.

RLC Student Services

Student services will be provided either virtually or on campus following CDC and IDPH guidelines.

RLC Employees

As guidelines and circumstances change, monitoring who is on campus and their location is important due to capacity limitations and contact tracing. The President’s Executive Leadership Team (PELT) or their designee will work closely to assign and approve the presence of faculty and staff on campus. Employees are required to wear a face covering/mask while working within six feet of others or moving about. Whether remote or on campus, staff and industrial faculty are expected to be available and perform job duties during the college’s business hours. Any exceptions to standard business hours must be approved by a PELT member. Duties performed remotely will be reported by the employee to the supervisor using the remote work report. Faculty are expected to perform job duties related to teaching schedule and hold office hours as assigned. Absence requests must be approved in advance by the employee’s supervisor. All employees are required to self-monitor their health status and notify supervisor immediately of COVID symptoms or exposure.

Effective: June 25, 2020