Housing appeal deadline extended; fall curriculum delivery plans

June 25, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged individuals, families and organizations in ways we could not have imagined. In the quest to be timely and responsive, the 2020 Reopening Plan, disseminated on June 22, 2020 may have led to some additional questions.

The purpose of this communication is to clarify and correct key elements of that communication and to provide an update on preparations to deliver the fall curriculum. We appreciate the questions and feedback provided by students, families and members of the campus community. This valuable feedback helps improve our processes and to communicate more effectively.

We understand students and families need additional time to determine if residing on campus is the right choice for them. Therefore, we are shifting the COVID-19 Housing Appeal deadline to July 16, 2020. Initial housing payments of $200 will be refunded for successful appeals submitted by the deadline. Appeals submitted after the deadline will be accepted and reviewed; however, the initial housing payment will not be refunded for successful appeals.

We have begun processing COVID-19 appeal requests. Requests received Monday through noon on Friday will receive a response within 48 hours. Appeals received after noon on Friday and over the weekend will be processed by the following Tuesday. 

The move-in schedule is as follows and the Office of Residence Life will provide additional information about the move-in sign-up process by July 15.

• New students can reserve a move-in time for Aug. 20 – 22
• Returning students can reserve a move-in time for Aug. 23 – 25

We will adhere to the CDC and Ohio Department of Health guidelines to protect the health and well-being of students, guests, and University employees.  Physical distancing requires a phased move-in process and face coverings will be required at all times. In addition, only one guest will be permitted to accompany the student into the residence hall. We understand the inconvenience; however, is the safety of our community is paramount.

If the need arises for on-campus students to isolate or quarantine during the fall semester, there are contingency plans to accommodate students.

Adhering to CDC and Ohio Department of Health guidelines requires rethinking the delivery of fall 2020 courses. Our primary goal is to provide BGSU students with a robust, meaningful, and most importantly, a safe experience both inside and outside the classroom in the coming academic year. This section of the message is intended to provide clarity for what students can expect during fall 2020. 

Courses will be delivered in three modes, which together will provide students opportunities to engage directly with faculty and peers while allowing flexibility to accommodate the needs of those who may be impacted by COVID-19. The combination of these delivery modes will also allow us to practice physical distancing in all of our classrooms. Physical distancing is central to the safety of students, faculty and staff.

The first delivery mode blends in-person and online elements. In these courses, referred to as hybrid, a faculty member might, for example, give a virtual lecture to all students in a class during a regularly scheduled period and then meet face-to-face with students in smaller groups during the rest of the week. Hybrid courses in rooms that allow for sufficient physical distancing may be taught almost entirely in person with few online elements. 

The second delivery mode is remote. Remote courses meet online during published scheduled days and times. Students in remote classes will have a high level, real-time interaction with their faculty instructor and fellow students during the scheduled times.

The third delivery mode is online. Students taking online courses do not typically meet on specific days and times, which allows for a great deal of flexibility. Faculty still engage in robust interactions with their students throughout the course. Only courses specifically designed and approved for online delivery will be offered in this mode in fall 2020.

We appreciate your patience as we finalize our course schedule for fall 2020 and are excited to welcome you back to campus. We will provide additional information throughout the summer to facilitate your transition to or return to Bowling Green State University. Additional updates have been outlined on our move-in website.

Sincerely,

Jodi E. Webb
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs

Joe B. Whitehead, Jr., Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs