Academics FAQ

1. How will classes be held?
2. How will I know how a class will be taught, in person or online?
3. Can I take classes either in-person or online?
4. Can a student switch from in-person to online and vise-versa?
5. Will the College allow students to switch to pass/fail as it did in the fall?
6. What will the spring academic calendar look like?
7. Will there be a spring break?
8. What academic support and disability services will be available to me at home?
9. Will I be able to get help from a tutor or from the Writing Center?
10. Will my professors have office hours?
11. How will online classes compare to those normally held on campus?
12. Will lab courses, studio art courses, and performing art courses still be offered in spring 2021?
13. Will honors research and other student research projects be allowed in spring 2021?
14. Will there be study abroad opportunities during 2020-21?
15. What about internships for the spring?

How will classes be held?

Our faculty members will decide the best means of operation for classes in the spring. Many classes will be taught in-person on campus. Of the in-person classes, many are likely to have some students attending remotely. Some classes will meet completely online either synchronously, asynchronously, or some combination of the two. Synchronous instruction will be held at scheduled class times and will also typically be recorded. In some classes, lab kits and art supplies, etc. may be sent to online students.
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How will I know how a class will be taught, in person or online?

This information is available on the portal and is updated as faculty provide information about their plans. Of course, changes may occur between now and the start of classes or even after classes start. Individual circumstances or the course of the pandemic may affect this in unpredictable ways.
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Can I take classes either in-person or online?

In-person classes will be available to students living in residence halls and those students who are approved for commuter student status. Commuter students and students living in residence halls may also elect to take some or all classes online. Students classified as resident students who are not living in residence halls will be limited to taking classes online to minimize community transmission of COVID-19.
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Can a student switch from in-person to online and vise-versa?

In order to schedule classroom spaces with ample room for social distancing of in-person students, the College must be able to predict how many students will attend in person for any given class. Therefore, if you begin the semester online, you should expect to remain online. If you begin the semester in person and circumstances change such that you need to shift to online, you may do so.
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Will the College allow students to switch to pass/fail as it did in the fall?

The faculty voted to return to the College’s standing policy for pass/fail, which can be found on pages 55-56 of the 2020-2021 academic catalog.

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What will the spring academic calendar look like?

As announced, we begin classes on February 1 and finish on May 9, followed by final exams.
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Will there be a spring break?

In order to minimize travel and the potential for COVID-19 transmission, we will not have a spring break. Reading Days, however, have been added to the calendar. Students will not have classes or classwork on these days. Those days include: March 1, 9, 17, and 25.
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What academic support and disability services will be available to me at home?

Though most services for most students will be in a virtual format, the College intends to offer the full suite of disability and academic support services and resources we normally provide.
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Will I be able to get help from a tutor or from the Writing Center?

Yes, tutoring, the Writing Center, and other academic services normally offered by the College will be available to help students in spring 2021.
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Will my professors have office hours?

Yes. Professors will have scheduled virtual office hours and will be available to help students as needed.
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How will online classes compare to those normally held on campus?

The lessons learned over the last eight months are already helping us improve our technology and online offerings. Our faculty members are extremely dedicated to our students—and to teaching—and are committed to ensuring that our students receive the best possible experience. The hallmark of an education at Randolph is the close, personal attention given to every student. That will continue this spring, and it is also what will make our students’ experiences richer and more rewarding than those offered by larger online providers. Because of our small size, we are uniquely positioned to offer an excellent in-person, online and blended experience. With an average class size of 11, Randolph’s students are more able to receive individualized and personalized attention in any setting. Our small size allows us to be more flexible and adaptable and provide more seminar-style discussions and creative instruction.
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Will lab courses, studio art courses, and performing art courses still be offered in spring 2021?

Yes, though courses may be offered virtually, and some modifications will be necessary.
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Will honors research and other student research projects be allowed in spring 2021?

Yes, some projects will be held in person and some will be held virtually. We will continue to be creative in seeking opportunities geared to each student’s circumstance.
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Will there be study abroad opportunities during 2020-21?

There will be no study abroad programs for this academic year. A decision on Study Seminars scheduled for next May has not been made at this time.
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What about internships for the spring?

Our Career Development Center staff will work closely with students to find safe internship opportunities where possible during the spring semester.
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