COVID-19 Updates

Academic Senate Guidance on Temporary Educational Policy Changes

Academic Senate Educational Policy Updates and Guidelines

The information on this page is a resource for faculty, instructors, and academic units on the status of Senate policies and Senate communications during changes in campus operating status in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact the Academic Senate Office (academicsenateoffice@ucsd.edu) with questions about Senate policies.

For assistance with remote instruction, visit the Keep Teaching website and the Teaching + Learning Commons Strategies for Remote Instruction.
For updates on campus operating status, visit the Return to Learn website.

Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 Exceptions to the Policy on Distance Education Courses

2022-2023 Exception for Remote Teaching due to a Documented Disability
EPC approved an exception to the Policy on Distance Education Courses for Fall Quarter 2022, Winter Quarter 2023, and Spring Quarter 2023 to allow a course to be taught remotely without an R-course designation due to a documented disability, if approved by the Undergraduate Council (for undergraduate courses) or Graduate Council (for graduate courses). The following two steps must be completed for UGC or GC to consider the exception:

1. The academic instructor submitted a request for remote instruction to Disability Counseling and Consulting (DCC) with evidence of a documented disability;
2. The Department Chair (or cognizant academic unit head) and School Dean (or equivalent) have both determined that remote instruction does not fundamentally alter the academic goals of the course and provided a justification to UGC or GC explaining why remote instruction is academically appropriate for the course.

The request should include evidence that the instructor initiated the process with DCC and a letter from the Department Chair, with endorsement from the School Dean, stating the course(s) requested for remote teaching and addressing why remote instruction is academically appropriate for the course(s) assigned to the instructor. As part of their review, departments are asked to evaluate the instructor’s commitment to the intellectual rigor of the course and what measures will be put in place to safeguard the academic integrity of the course in a remote format, including plans for high stakes assessments. Following UGC or GC review, the academic head or unit will receive a notification from the Academic Senate of the outcome and may proceed to complete the interactive process with DCC.

2022-2023 Exception for Remote Teaching due to Circumstances other than a Documented Disability
The Educational Policy Committee (EPC) approved an exception to the Policy on Distance Education Courses for Fall Quarter 2022, Winter Quarter 2023, and Spring Quarter 2023 to allow a course to be taught remotely without an R-course designation due to extenuating circumstances that are not based on an instructor’s documented disability, if approved by the Undergraduate Council (for undergraduate courses) or Graduate Council (for graduate courses). The following conditions must be met for UGC or GC to consider the exception:

1. The academic instructor has requested to teach the course remotely when their situation would otherwise allow them to be eligible for a leave or accomodation based on University policy;
2. Department Chair and School Deans have confirmed that a leave or accommodation is within policy for the specific faculty situation, thereby allowing consideration of remote instruction as an alternative. EPC’s purview is limited to course modality. The administration can provide guidance related to other policies applicable to academic appointees based on their request/need. Faculty, chairs and deans may consult with departmental or school AP staff, may refer to the APS website (https://aps.ucsd.edu/faculty-resources/leaves/index.html) or may reach out to Academic Personnel Services regarding leave and/or accommodation options;
3. The Department Chair and School Dean have determined that remote instruction does not fundamentally alter the academic goals of the course and a justification is provided explaining why remote instruction is academically appropriate for the course.

The request should include a letter from the Department, endorsed by the Dean, that addresses the points raised above. As part of their review, departments are asked to evaluate the instructor’s commitment to the intellectual rigor of the course and what measures will be put in place to safeguard the academic integrity of the course in a remote format, including plans for high stakes assessments.

For remote teaching accommodations for Fall 2022, Winter 2023, and/or Spring 2023 requests may be submitted by academic units to Senate Associate Director Ashley Hill (awelch@ucsd.edu) for review by UGC or GC.