History of Academic Changes Due to Rice's COVID-19 Response
This Office of the Registrar webpage addresses specific topics and areas of change as a response to COVID-19 by Rice University. This page is strictly related to academic situations and decisions arising from Rice's COVID-19 response. For more information on COVID-19 policies and communications, please visit coronavirus.rice.edu.
Please note that some links on this page may no longer be functioning due to information (particularly messaging) being removed from other sites not controlled by the Office of the Registrar.
Table of Contents
- Academic Calendar
- Detailed Semester Pages
- Academic Instruction
- Course Schedule
- Academic Relief Accommodations
Detailed Semester Pages
- Fall Semester 2020 Schedule (Changes, Etc.)
- Spring Semester 2021 Schedule (Changes, Etc.)
- Fall Semester 2021 Schedule (Changes, Etc.)
- Spring Semester 2022 Schedule (Changes, Etc.)
Academic Calendar
Spring Semester 2020
- Classes were canceled the week of March 9
Summer Semester 2020
- Summer Academic Calendar was rebuilt in to "blocks" to better accommodate online delivery
Fall Semester 2020
- Instruction began as originally planned on Monday, August 24, 2020.
- Labor Day remained as a holiday with no classes scheduled on Monday, September 7, 2020.
- The two-day midterm recess (previously scheduled for Monday-Tuesday, October 12 – 13, 2020) was cancelled, classes are scheduled on those days.
- Election Day (Tuesday, November 3, 2020) will be a regular class day; however, no assignments can be due that day and all instructional material covered on that day must be available asynchronously.
- Instruction will end on Friday, November 20, 2020.
- The week of Monday, November 30 – Friday, December 4, 2020 will be an “independent study” week – work such as papers, homework assignments, and similar materials that are currently allowed by the General Announcements (GA) to be due the last week of classes may be made due on Thursday or Friday of that week (Dec. 3 – 4) but there will be no class meetings during the week.
- Friday, December 4, 2020 will remain the official “last day of classes” for the Fall 2020 semester.
- Study days (Saturday-Tuesday, December 5 – 8) and final exam days (Wednesday-Wednesday, December 9 – 16) will remain as originally scheduled.
- Final exams will be conducted in a remote format.
- Midterm recess is cancelled; end of instruction moved to November 20; independent study days added; final exams to be remote/take home
Supporting Documents for Fall Semester 2020
- "Additional ARC Guidelines for Fall 2020" (6/17/2020) - Outlines, in specific detail with reasoning, many of the decisions regarding Fall 2020 noted on this page.
- Fall 2020 ARC Update (10/16/2020) - Update on the Fall 2020 semester, including independent study days and what assignments may be due, final exams, and class recordings.
- Fall Semester 2020 Academic Calendar
Spring Semester 2021
- The Course Schedule will be published no later than Thursday, November 12, 2020.
- The Course Request Period will run Thursday, November 12, through Friday, December 4, 2020.
- Instruction will begin on Monday, January 25, 2021.
- The following "breaks" have been cancelled:
- Spring Recess
- Spring Break
- The following days are designated as "Sprinkle Days," on which there are no scheduled classes:
- Wednesday, February 17, 2021
- Monday, March 1, 2021
- Tuesday, March 16, 2021
- Friday, March 26, 2021
- Thursday, April 8, 2021
- The Last Day of Classes and the End of Instruction is Friday, April 30, 2021
- Study Days are Saturday, May 1, 2021, through Tuesday, May 4, 2021
- Final Examinations will be held Wednesday May 5, 2021, through Wednesday May 12, 2021
- Convocation will be held Friday, May 14, 2021, and Commencement will be held Saturday, May 15, 2021
Supporting Documents for Spring Semester 2021
- Spring Semester 2021 Academic Calendar
- "ARC Message for Spring 2021 Semester" (1/4/2021) - Contains of summary of Spring 2021 items, including dual delivery, Sprinkle Days, international student issues, academic accommodations, syllabi, and final exams.
Fall Semester 2021
- Classes will begin on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, to allow faculty to prepare to move their courses online for the first two weeks of the semester
- All registration-related (and Course “Add”) deadlines have been extended by one week, to Friday, September 10, 2021.
- The Pass/Fail and Late Drop dates have been extended to the last day of classes, which is Friday, December 3, 2021.
Supporting Documents for Fall Semester 2021
- "Fall Course Instruction Update" (8/19/2021) - Updates campus community on fall instruction plan changes, including classes beginning on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, and move to online instruction until Friday, September 3, 2021, for all courses.
- "Add Deadline Extended (to Week 3)" (8/23/2021) - Notice to students that all registration-related (and Course “Add”) deadlines have been extended by one week, to Friday, September 10, 2021.
- "Extension of Drop and Pass/Fail Deadlines" (10/29/2021) - Notice to students and instructors about the extension of the drop and pass/fail deadlines to the last day of classes, which is Friday, December 3, 2021.
Spring Semester 2022
- Classes will begin as scheduled on January 10, 2022
- Classes with 50 or fewer students are generally online for the first two weeks of the semester; all courses over 50 students must be delivered online
- Course ADD deadline has been moved to January 28, 2022
- Course DROP deadline has been moved to March 25, 2022
Supporting Documents for Spring Semester 2022
- "Message from the President and Provost regarding Spring Semester Plans" (12/26/2021) - Updates campus community on spring plans, including moving classes generally online for the first two weeks of the semester
- "COVID-19 Update: January 16, 2022" (1/16/2022) - Notice that the course ADD deadline has moved to the end of Week 3 (January 28, 2022)
- "Drop Deadline Extended to Week 10 (Spring 2022)" (2/21/2022) - Announcement that the drop deadline has been extended to March 25, 2022
Academic Instruction
Spring Semester 2020
- Courses moved to online delivery beginning March 23, 2020.
Summer Semester 2020
- All summer courses moved to online delivery.
Fall Semester 2020
- Courses were to be taught in "dual delivery" unless specific exceptions were granted. A list of courses that were granted exceptions is available on the Fall Semester 2020 Schedule (Changes, Etc.) page.
- "Dual Delivery for Fall 2020 - ARC" (6/10/2020) - Explains what "dual delivery" is for courses in Fall 2020 and references offices where training and resources for dual delivery are available.
- "Information About Dual Delivery for Fall 2020 - Provost" (6/10/2020) - Outlines steps needed to be able to teach in dual delivery mode in Fall 2020 to meet requirements of Rice Policy 846.
- "Online / Face-to-Face / Dual Delivery Definition Clarification" (7/13/2020) - Clarification on the definitions of "online," "face-to-face," and "dual delivery" sent by ARC.
- (New) Fall 2020 Course Schedule (Update/Extension) (7/15/2020) - Description of change to definition of "online" in Policy 846; extension for instructors/departments/schools to further adjust courses to be "online."
- "Syllabus Resources" (7/27/2020) - Provides additional information for faculty to make changes to their course syllabus in light of courses being offered in multiple modalities.
- Required trainings for dual delivery were relayed to community.
- "Required Training for Fully Online Courses for the Fall" (6/18/2020) - Explains the requirements for teaching a fully online course and what trainings must be completed. Also includes information about training opportunities.
- In person classes capped at 25 students per meeting.
- "Suggested Strategies for Large Classes" (6/18/2020) - Provides options and ideas for instructors teaching classes with enrollments of 26 - 99 on how to include significant in person experience. (Note: this document references the enrollment figure of 50 - 99, but this was changed to "greater than 25" in subsequent guidelines.)
- "ARC Message on Maximum Class Size Change and Guidelines for Exemptions to In-Person Course Delivery for Fall 2020" (6/29/2020) - Updated guidance on maximum class sizes with all courses with enrollments 26 or greater being moved online.
- Guidelines for Course Shopping, Special Registration, and Field Based Activities (8/6/2020) - Provides guidance for instructors regarding how to successfully allow course shopping, special registration, and academic field based activities for students.
Spring Semester 2021
- Maximum in person class size was increased from 25 to 40.
- Maximum In Person Class Size for Spring 2021 Courses (11/6/2020) - Announces maximum in person class meeting size increase to 40 students for Spring 2021 courses.
- Courses in which a student is in a classroom and the instructor is "brought in" virtually on a screen are considered "online" courses; "face-to-face" courses must have the instructor and student(s) in the same location.
- Face-to-Face Versus Online Courses (12/7/2020) - Clarifies what a "face-to-face" course is in light of dual delivery and international students.
- "ARC Message for Spring 2021 Semester" (1/4/2021) - Contains of summary of Spring 2021 items, including dual delivery, Sprinkle Days, international student issues, academic accommodations, syllabi, and final exams. Courses to be taught in "dual delivery" unless specific exceptions were granted. A list of courses that were granted exceptions is available on the Spring Semester 2021 Schedule (Changes, Etc.) page.
- Courses will begin with online delivery for the Spring 2021 semester with limited courses excluded from this requirement.
- "Message Regarding Spring Semester Plans" (1/8/2021) - Summary of changes to the Spring 2021 semester given changing situation in Houston and Harris County. With regards to academic instruction, the semester will begin with all classes being delivered online only with specific exceptions granted by the Provost. Additional information to follow on how to obtain an exception.
- "Message Regarding Spring Semester Plans" (1/8/2021) - Summary of changes to the Spring 2021 semester given changing situation in Houston and Harris County. With regards to academic instruction, the semester will begin with all classes being delivered online only with specific exceptions granted by the Provost. Additional information to follow on how to obtain an exception.
- "Exemption to Online Start for Individual Study Course" (1/22/2021) - Makes all "individual study courses where students and instructors meet one-on-one" exempted from the online-only start requirement requirement. These courses include independent research courses, directed reading courses or other courses where students and instructors meet individually, and they may begin in person on January 25, 2021.
- "Making Up Lost Instruction" (2/18/2021) - Provides guidance to instructors on how to make up lost instructional time due to the February winter weather event.
Fall Semester 2021
- Message from President Leebron regarding Fall Planning (3/30/2021) - Update on Fall 2021 planning and thought process behind Fall 2021 decision making.
- "Fall 2021 Course Instruction" (3/30/2021) - Guidelines for Fall 2021 instruction, including that the default is a return to "normal" and face-to-face instruction.
- "Fall Course Instruction" (8/11/2021) - Provides update guidelines for Fall 2021 instruction, including masking requirements, change of instructional method, dual delivery requirements, and large courses
- "Fall Course Instruction Update" (8/19/2021) - Updates campus community on fall instruction plan changes, including classes beginning on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, and move to online instruction until Friday, September 3, 2021, for all courses.
- "Fall Course Instruction Update" (9/3/2021) - Provides updated guidance on class sizes of 51 or more moving online, student seating in classrooms, masks, and preparing for alternate teaching methods.
- Fall 2021 Course Instruction Update (9/16/2021) - Provides updates on Fall 2021 class instruction, including movement of courses that were previously online to now be face-to-face.
- Fall 2021 Classroom Assignment Update Process (9/16/2021) - Provides a status update as to how OTR is handling classroom changes in light of the Fall 2021 Course Instruction Update (9/16/2021)
- "Midsemester Update" (10/6/2021) - Provides guidance on students missing for an extended period of time due to isolation/quarantine; also confirms that assignments may not be due during Midterm Recess (10/11 - 10/12)
Spring Semester 2022
- "Message from the President and Provost regarding Spring Semester Plans" (12/26/2021) - Updates campus community on spring plans, including moving classes generally online for the first two weeks of the semester
Course Schedule/Registration
Spring Semester 2020
- Classes were canceled the week of March 9.
Summer Semester 2020
- All summer courses were moved to online delivery, and the Summer Course Schedule was rebuilt in its entirety to accommodate additional "blocks" and online delivery.
Fall Semester 2020
- The daily class schedule was reconfigured programmatically by OTR and classes were assigned times and rooms in order to provide a sufficiently large space to operate under Rice guidelines.
- Courses over 25 students were defaulted to be offered online.
- "ARC Message on Maximum Class Size Change and Guidelines for Exemptions to In-Person Course Delivery for Fall 2020" (6/29/2020) - Updated guidance on maximum class sizes with all courses with enrollments 26 or greater being moved online.
- Standard time blocks changed (extended by five minutes in most cases) to account for lost days, and twenty minutes passing time between classes implemented.
- "Additional ARC Guidelines for Fall 2020" (6/17/2020) - Outlines, in specific detail with reasoning, many of the decisions regarding Fall 2020 noted on this page.
- Fall 2020 Standard Time Blocks
- "Important: E-mail to [Undergraduate] Students on Updated Fall 2020 Course Enrollments" (6/24/2020) - Provides overview of changes being made to the Fall 2020 schedule for undergraduate students
- "Important: E-mail to [Graduate] Students on Updated Fall 2020 Course Enrollments" (6/25/2020) - Provides overview of changes being made to the Fall 2020 schedule for graduate students
- Registration was "paused" for to allow for changes to be made to the Course Schedule based on ARC guidance.
- "Important: ESTHER Add/Drops (2-Week "Pause")" (7/4/2020) - Notification that registration actions will be "paused" until Monday, July 20, 2020.
- Update: Extension of "Pause" by 1 Week (ESTHER Adds/Drops) (7/15/2020) (Undergraduate Students / Graduate Students) - Update on registration actions being "paused." The registration "pause" has been extended until Monday, July 27, 2020.
Spring Semester 2021
- The Course Request Period and Add/Drop Period were moved to the end of November and beginning of December.
- Fall Semester 2020 Academic Calendar
- CourseLeaf CLSS: Spring 2021 Registration Date Changes (9/30/2020) - Information pertaining the the change in registration for students, pushing back Spring 2021 registration to the end of November and into December.
- Maximum in person class size was increased from 25 to 40.
- Maximum In Person Class Size for Spring 2021 Courses (11/6/2020) - Announces maximum in person class meeting size increase to 40 students for Spring 2021 courses.
- Courses will be online except for courses that have been exempted from that requirement.
- "Message Regarding Spring Semester Plans" (1/8/2021) - Summary of changes to the Spring 2021 semester given changing situation in Houston and Harris County. With regards to academic instruction, the semester will begin with all classes being delivered online only with specific exceptions granted by the Provost. Additional information to follow on how to obtain an exception.
- "Exemption to Online Start for Individual Study Course" (1/22/2021) - Makes all "individual study courses where students and instructors meet one-on-one" exempted from the online-only start requirement requirement. These courses include independent research courses, directed reading courses or other courses where students and instructors meet individually, and they may begin in person on January 25, 2021.
Fall Semester 2021
- "Add Deadline Extended (to Week 3)" (8/23/2021) - Notice to students that all registration-related (and Course “Add”) deadlines have been extended by one week, to Friday, September 10, 2021.
- "Extension of Drop and Pass/Fail Deadlines" (10/29/2021) - Notice to students and instructors about the extension of the drop and pass/fail deadlines to the last day of classes, which is Friday, December 3, 2021.
Spring Semester 2022
- "Message from the President and Provost regarding Spring Semester Plans" (12/26/2021) - Updates campus community on spring plans, including moving classes generally online for the first two weeks of the semester
- "COVID-19 Update: January 16, 2022" (1/16/2022) - Notice that the course ADD deadline has moved to the end of Week 3 (January 28, 2022)
Academic Relief Accommodations
Spring Semester 2020
Undergraduate Students
- All courses in full term or second half of term were eligible to be taken Pass/Fail
- Pass/Fail Deadlines Updated
- As of 3/25/2020: The last day to declare a course Pass/Fail was the last day of classes
- As of 4/22/2020: The last day to declare a course Pass/Fail was 6/1/2020 for continuing students; 5/20/2020 for Spring 2020 degree candidates
- Courses designated Pass/Fail were still eligible to have grades uncovered
- Courses designated Pass/Fail did not count against the normal Pass/Fail allowance
- Pass/Fail courses taken in Spring 2020 were/are eligible to be used to meet major/minor/certificate requirements provided a grade of P is earned
- Course Drop Deadlines Updated
- As of 3/25/2020: All courses for all students were eligible to be dropped unto the last day of classes
- As of 4/22/2020: All courses for all continuing students were given a 6/1/2020 deadline to drop courses; drops after the last day of classes would be changed to NG grade
- Academic probation and academic suspension "paused" in most circumstances for Spring 2020
- Graduation accommodations created due to COVID-19 disruptions
Graduate Students
- All courses for all students were eligible to be dropped unto the last day of classes
- Students in terminal master's degrees were allowed to designate up to two non-research courses as Pass/Fail; courses designated Pass/Fail were still eligible to have grades uncovered; courses designated as Pass/Fail courses taken in Spring 2020 were/are eligible to be used to meet program requirements provided a grade of P is earned
- Pass/Fail Deadlines Updated
- As of 3/25/2020: The last day to declare a course Pass/Fail was the last day of classes
- As of 4/22/2020: The last day to declare a course Pass/Fail was 6/1/2020 for continuing students; 5/20/2020 for Spring 2020 degree candidates
- Academic probation and academic suspension "paused" in most circumstances for Spring 2020
- Graduation accommodations created due to COVID-19 disruptions
Supporting Documentation for Spring Semester 2020
- Academic Relief for Spring 2020 - Faculty Senate Approval (3/25/2020)
- Graduation Accommodations Due to Spring 2020 Course Disruptions (3/25/2020)
- Additional Academic Relief for Spring 2020 - Faculty Senate Approval (4/22/2020)
Summer Semester 2020
No academic relief accommodations were granted during Summer Semester 2020.
Fall Semester 2020
- Drop deadline extended to the end of Week 10 for all students
- Drop deadline extended until after the conclusion of the semester; Fall 2020 degree candidates may drop until January 6, 2021, and all other students have until January 13, 2021.
Spring Semester 2021
- Drop deadline extended.
- "ARC Message for Spring 2021 Semester" (1/4/2021) - Contains of summary of Spring 2021 items, including dual delivery, Sprinkle Days, international student issues, academic accommodations, syllabi, and final exams.
- Motion for Spring 2021 Academic Relief Accommodation (1/27/2021)
Fall Semester 2021
- Drop deadline extended to end of Week 10 for all students.
- Pass/Fail and Late Drop dates have been extended to the last day of classes, which is Friday, December 3, 2021.
Spring Semester 2022
Drop deadline extended to end of Week 10 for all students.