Dear colleagues,

We write to share an update on planning for spring semester 2021. Please review this important information as you plan your spring courses.

• The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE) has indicated that Spring Break 2021 will be converted to an instructional week for all Montana University System institutions. The academic calendar and associated deadlines will be updated accordingly, including possible changes for Commencement, summer session 2021, and fall semester 2021. A shared governance planning group will convene soon to begin a planning process to address both the instructional and functional impacts to faculty, students and staff. Stay tuned for more information.
• The Instructional Planning Group encourages you to plan as much face-to-face instruction as possible in spring semester 2021, while also accommodating individual faculty/student health concerns.
• Socially distanced classroom layouts will continue to be the norm.
• Outdoor classrooms won’t be available during the winter months. Depending on weather conditions, they may become available later in the spring.
• Unless an effective vaccine is developed and available, or COVID-19 conditions change, course modality options for future semesters will be similar to fall 2020.
• Please plan to maintain/continue course modalities for which students initially register, and avoid switching to remote instruction mid-course.  Exceptions should be discussed with your chair/dean.
• The blended modality fee will be waived in spring semester 2021 again, and we've developed specific language about various ways faculty can set up blended courses, below.
• Please work with your department scheduling administrator to clearly communicate your modality and classroom needs, especially regarding the blended/hybrid options.

You may offer your spring semester 2021 courses in one of the following modalities:

1. FACE-TO-FACE = max enrollment cannot exceed 50 students; room allocation priority
2. REMOTE = synchronous via Zoom
3. ONLINE = asynchronous via Moodle ($48 fee/credit applies to cover instructional design support)
4. BLENDED/HYBRID = with options for more streamlined room allocation:
   1. full attendance (faculty intend for all enrolled students to meet in one room at least once per week);
   2. hyflex – priority for room outfitted with hyflex technology (faculty indicate X number of face-to-face students attending with the remaining students attending synchronously via Zoom);
   3. split/alternating attendance (faculty indicate X number of students for room capacity allocation).

Please contact the Registrar’s Office scheduling team (Registrar_Rooms@mso.umt.edu) if you have questions regarding classroom assignments. The team will assign classrooms for spring semester classes in December and early January.

Registration timeline and key dates:

• September 28 (Monday) – Winter and Spring 2021 course schedule visible via Course Search
• October 2 (Friday) – Spring 2021 advising begins (advising PINs available)
• October 26 (Monday) – Priority Registration begins for Winter and Spring 2021; Summer 2021 course schedule visible via Course Search
• November 9 (Monday) – Registration begins for Summer 2021 (no advising PIN required)
• November 19 (Thursday) – Final exam week begins
• November 30 (Monday) – Winter Session begins

Thank you for your attention to these matters. Please contact the Office of the Provost or the Office of the Registrar if you have questions.

Sincerely,

Maria Mangold, Interim Registrar

Reed Humphrey, Acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

This message was sent by the Office of the Provost, on behalf of the Office of the Provost and the Office of the Registrar, to all UM faculty and staff.