Administrators at NSU have been working diligently to ensure that the start of the Fall 2020 semester occurs in the safest way possible for all students, faculty, and staff of Northwestern State. With that safety in mind and considering all local, state and federal guidelines/recommendations, we have developed a plan which will allow us to accommodate most student learning preferences while maintaining the safest environment possible in which that learning will occur. Those modalities are outlined below. The University uses a variety of different campus/instructional codes for classes. Some of those common codes are:
A – Alexandria
H – High School
I – Internet
L – Leesville
N – Natchitoches
S – Shreveport
X – Other/Offsite
In addition, attached at the bottom of this update, you will find a pdf document named “Course Delivery Descriptions” that further explains NSU’s course codes and how they are assigned. For the most accurate information on your course schedule, it is important to refer to your student course schedule on the dashboard which can be viewed after logging into myNSU.
Course Offerings during the Fall 2020 Semester
Due to health/safety restrictions, some alterations must be made to the Fall 2020 schedule of course offerings. For students with concerns relative to technology access, please keep in mind that computer labs will be open throughout campus with physical distancing observed.
Clinical/Laboratory/Skills Courses: These courses will experience no/minor alterations in offerings. Your instructors will provide guidance on how your hands-on experiences in these courses will proceed in accordance with physical-distancing guidelines.
Face-to-Face Courses: Many of our face-to-face courses will remain in their current format, however, some face-to-face courses will not be able to be offered in their current form. If you are enrolled in one of these courses, you will receive an email directing you to choose between two alternative options for the indicated course:
- A HyFlex section of this course.
-
- Will require that you participate in some on-campus class meetings.
- Is a blend of both online and in-person methods
- A traditional, online section of this course.
-
- Will not require that you participate in any on-campus class meetings
- All learning will occur in the virtual environment.
Online Courses: The delivery of your traditional, online courses will not be impacted in the Fall 2020 semester.
What is HyFlex instruction?
- Students in a HyFlex course will participate in both online and face-to-face learning at different times during the semester. For example, if a course was originally scheduled to meet from 9:30a – 10:45a every Tuesday and Thursday of the semester, in the HyFlex mode of delivery, this course would be split into two parts:
- Half of the students would participate in person every Tuesday and virtually every Thursday.
- Half of the students would participate virtually every Tuesday and in person every Thursday.
Virtual participation in a HyFlex course differs from that in a traditional, online course. Students are required to “attend” the live class in the virtual environment at the same day/time each week and can, in real time, engage with the instructor and/or other students.
What are the advantages of HyFlex instruction?
The HyFlex model of instruction provides several important advantages:
- It allows students to engage in synchronous learning.
- It allows for greater engagement between instructor and students.
- With fewer individuals together in the classroom at each class meeting, it allows for proper physical distancing and other safety measures which creates the safest/healthiest environment possible.
- If, at any time during the semester and for whatever reason, you are unable to attend class in person, you can exclusively participate in the class in the virtual environment and not miss instruction.
- If the university was forced to pivot to online-only instruction, learning in the course can continue in the synchronous, virtual environment with little impact on instructor and student.
What do I do now?
If you are currently enrolled in a course that is being altered and you must choose between specific options for your adjusted semester schedule, you will receive an email with instructions regarding the changes that must be made. It is imperative that you act quickly once you receive that email, as there will be a limited number of seats in the newly-available face-to-face or HyFlex sections of courses. If you do not receive such an email, no action is required on your part.
We look forward to our Fall semester at Northwestern State, and to helping you succeed in the Fall 2020 semester and beyond. Should you have any questions regarding HyFlex courses, please email hyflex@nsula.edu for assistance. For general questions regarding the academic semester, please contact vpaa@nsula.edu.
