UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Falcons Forward

Academic Instruction

We remain committed to providing you the support needed to be safe, healthy, and successful. We will keep you updated here, by email, and on social media with resources to help you prepare for the 2020-21 academic year.

At the present time we are anticipating using the regular fall semester schedule of Sept. 2-Dec. 14, 2020. Any changes to that, including decisions about Thanksgiving Break, will come later.   

For fall 2020, more courses will be offered via online (distance) format where content and pedagogy are appropriate. A hybrid format will be used for most other courses, with fully face-to-face format only where content and pedagogy demand this. Hybrid courses (also referred to as blended or mixed face-to-face) are courses in which instructors interact with students in the same physical space for less than 75% of the instructional time, with the remainder of the instructional time provided online or through other distanced methods. Face-to-face engagement activities, including as part of hybrid courses, will be managed using physical distancing, PPE and other appropriate health and safety measures.

Students should check their ESIS accounts to see adjustments to their schedules. If a student wants to revise their schedule, they should speak with their adviser.

Attention will be placed on offering hybrid and face-to-face course options to students living on campus in the residence halls, especially freshmen and sophomores.

For fall 2020, and in consideration of changing the delivery mode of courses from face-to-face to an online format, UWRF will continue to charge the online fee for courses that were already scheduled to be delivered online. Courses moved to an online format but in which no students had yet registered will also be charged the online fee – this primarily affects new students. The fee will not be charged for courses moving online that already had students registered – this primarily affect continuing students.

Face-to-face engagements will necessarily require use of physical space on campus. Through Facilities Management, classroom capacity numbers will be adjusted to reflect physical distancing needs. Classrooms will have up to 50% normal occupancy numbers and in most cases less. Extra furniture will be removed from those rooms with movable desks, tables and chairs to maintain revised capacities, and the remaining furniture appropriately spaced. Classrooms with fixed furniture will need special considerations. In addition to regular classrooms, other spaces across campus, such as in the University Center, will also be evaluated for occupancies as classrooms for fall 2020. The four dean’s offices will work with the Registrar’s Office in the rescheduling of spaces across campus to accommodate those courses needing face-to-face engagements.

For courses using face-to-face engagement with students, instructors must utilize assigned seating and document the attendance of students in those courses. These are to help identify student absences that may be due to COVID-19 as well as facilitating contact tracing of individuals following confirmation of COVID-19 on campus.

Due to concerns for health and safety of students in physical settings, as well as their level of access to online (distance) delivery of course materials, instructors are asked to relax any policies in which strict attendance is used as part of grading policies.

Face coverings shall be required in all indoor public spaces, including classrooms, and strongly encouraged outside when physical distancing is not possible.

Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals unable to wear a face covering. Requests for reasonable accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis. It is the responsibility of the individual requesting the accommodation to contact the appropriate office below to obtain an approved reasonable accommodation.
 
• Employees requesting a reasonable accommodation, should contact Human Resources and complete the Reasonable Accommodation request form located here.
• Students requesting a reasonable accommodation due to disability, should contact Ability Services and may find more information here.
• Students requesting a reasonable accommodation for a reason other than a disability, should contact the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Excellence & Student Success.
 
Students with an approved reasonable accommodation will receive an approved accommodation form from the Ability Services Office and must present that upon request to a university official or instructor. Return to Campus-COVID 19 Policy, Page 3 A student or employee who has been granted a reasonable accommodation by the university is not required to explain to others the underlying basis for the accommodation.

Individuals who do not adhere to the face covering policy directive (and do not have an approved accommodation) may be asked or directed to leave campus. Students and employees who choose not to comply with this policy may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please use this form for submitting concerns relating to violations of UW-River Falls' policies and directives regarding COVID-19.  (Do NOT use this form to relay concerns that you or someone else has COVID-19.)

Examples of what to report include: failure to wear a face covering, failure to physical distance, failure to quarantine or follow contact tracing policies or other violations (intentional or unintentional) related to COVID policies etc. 

If you would like to discuss an incident with the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards, please contact Thomas Pedersen, Director at 715-425-4507 or email:  thomas.pedersen@uwrf.edu

Department offices will need to submit plans for reopening for fall 2020 as part of UWRF Return to Campus Guidelines. A template will be created that may fit the needs of some academic department offices and can be used instead of developing an individual plan. Offices requiring special considerations and accommodations will need to develop and submit their own plan, coordinated through the appropriate dean’s office.

Textbook Services has modified book issue to provide a safe environment for you to collect the textbooks for your courses.  To promote physical distancing and limit the potential spread of COVID-19 we are having a no-contact book issue.

Prior to Getting Your Textbooks

  • Finalize your class schedule so we can be sure to get the correct items for your Fall courses.
     
  • Log into the Textbook Pickup form to reserve a pickup time. Students will need to sign up for a pickup time at least 24 hours prior to getting their books so staff has time to pull, check out, and bag your items. 
     
  • Textbook distribution starts August 17th with the following schedule: 
    • August 17-21: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    • August 24-28: Monday to Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    • August 31-September 4: Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Wednesday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • On September 8th Textbook Services will start its fall schedule of Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment. 

Picking Up Your Books

  • Show up at Hagestad Hall as close to your scheduled time as possible.  Bring you campus ID and wear a face covering. 
     
  • A staff member will check your ID and direct you to the appropriate table where your books will be checked out, bagged, and waiting for you. 
     
  • Once you have your bag, head to the back where another staff member will make sure the correct bag is paired with the correct person.
     
  • If you need to reschedule your appointment, the confirmation message sent to your UWRF email has a link to modify or cancel your reservation. 

Not on Campus?

Still Have Spring or Summer Items?