ODU Fall 2020 Term & Course Information
Monday, June 15, 2020
Dear Students,
As we approach the start of the fall 2020 semester, I will be keeping you updated on plans for the campus opening. Below you will find information on the fall semester's start/end dates and details on how classes will be offered and coordinated.
Old Dominion University will reschedule the first day of fall classes to Saturday, August 15, in light of current COVID-19 trends in Hampton Roads and Governor Northam's recently adopted restrictions in Executive Order 68. After Thanksgiving break, all classes will be delivered online through December 11.
Information on class delivery is outlined below:
- Classes are offered in three modes: entirely face-to-face, entirely online, or a flexible hybrid approach. On campus classes and campus-based computer labs will have reduced capacity because of physical distancing requirements.
- Online courses are noted as web asynchronous or web synchronous, so be sure to check your course schedule for any changes in delivery and possible meeting days and times. An online synchronous class has scheduled times attached to the class while an asynchronous class does not have set class times.
- If you are taking a flexible delivery course, you will be enrolled in a face-to-face (f2f) or a remote section. If you are in the remote group, you will not attend class in person unless enough seats become available. If you are registering for a f2f course, you must agree to abide by recommended and applicable protective measures.
- Some courses, such as additional lab sections, may be scheduled on weekends because of physical distancing requirements and the need to reduce student density in smaller instructional spaces.
- Where multiple sections of the same course exist, some may be offered f2f and online. You can explore the latest options and make changes to your schedule through the drop/add deadline on August 25, 2020.
- Please review your class schedule periodically for updates to the classroom, location, and delivery type.
Below my signature, you can read answers to frequently asked questions from students like you. Please look for additional communications throughout the summer. I look forward to seeing you on campus.
With Monarch Pride,
Don Stansberry, PhD
Interim Vice President, Student Engagement & Enrollment Services
Frequently Asked Questions About Classes:
Can I choose on campus or online classes?
Some classes are offered only face to face, some classes are offered only online, and others are offered both f2f and online. Review carefully the location and delivery type of every class. You can still switch classes based on your preference. To help find the right delivery, Web 2 and Web 5 are online classes designated for Virginia residents and Web 7 and Web 8 are online classes for students living out of state or out of the country.
Why did my on-campus class change to an online section?
Academic departments carefully considered student and faculty needs and classroom capacity to base their decisions on class offerings and delivery. Following state and federal guidelines for physical distancing, some classes were moved to larger rooms or online.
My instructor is teaching my on-campus class that is cross-listed with an online section. How does that work?
Paired classes offer flexibility when physical distancing is necessary. Some on-campus classes have related online sections to expand capacity and options for students. While some students will not be able to come to campus for a variety of reasons, synchronous classes allow attendance with the on-campus section. There are some flexible paired classes listed as asynchronous to allow students to attend class on their own time. For example, a classroom that used to hold 30 students would be reduced to 8 students to allow for physical distancing. The same instructor teaching on campus will teach 22 students in an online section which helps students get the classes they need.
Are there different fees for online and on-campus classes?
Online classes have a technology fee while on-campus classes are charged different fees for services such as the transportation and student health fee.
What are the cost differences between on-campus and online classes?
If you live in Virginia, the cost of tuition is the same per credit hour for on-campus and online classes, yet, there are slight cost differences in fees for technology and campus services. As you consider your options, Web 2 and Web 5 are online classes designated for Virginia residents and Web 7 and Web 8 are online classes for students living outside Virginia. Out-of-state students living outside Virginia receive a reduced rate for online classes and on-campus classes are charged the regular out-of-state rate.
