July 1, 2020
I look forward to welcoming our new and returning Knights this fall. Our semester will look much different from what you have already experienced or expected college to look like, but we are committed to delivering an engaging on-campus and remote experience and to helping you succeed.
During the past several months, our faculty and staff have been working hard to plan for a fall semester that provides you with an outstanding academic experience while we take precautions to protect our campus community’s health and well-being in light of COVID-19.
We know that one of the most important decisions impacting you involves whether your classes will be offered in person, online or in a hybrid format.
We have been working closely with deans and faculty members to determine which classes are most in need of on-campus instruction, and we have been regularly updating schedules on myUCF as decisions are made. Today is a good time to log into myUCF to make note of whether any of your classes have changed from face-to-face to online.
We do not anticipate many changes to class schedules after today. However, under our Return to Campus plan, we are prepared to be flexible and shift to fewer or no face-to-face classes should health conditions and guidance from state and local health officials change.
While the fall will undoubtedly look different, there will be engagement opportunities through student organizations, events and other activities that will be held both virtually and face-to-face to help bring you together with your UCF community.
More Details on Fall Classes
We have moved face-to-face classes into rooms with larger capacities so that we can arrange seating with physical distancing. The dates and times of classes should not change, except in rare circumstances.
UCF students and faculty members will be required to wear face coverings in classrooms on all UCF campuses, including those shared with state college partners, as they will be required to do in other shared indoor spaces.
Classrooms will be cleaned daily and disinfected regularly, and disinfecting wipes will be readily available.
UCF will transition to fully remote classes after Thanksgiving break, meaning face-to-face classes will transition to other formats, such as online or video meetings. Residence halls, libraries, study spaces and dining services will remain open for student use following Thanksgiving break.
UCF’s new BlendFlex model combines online learning and face-to-face instruction. Faculty can choose to break classes up into multiple sections. For example, one-third of the students in a Monday-Wednesday-Friday class could go to class in person on Monday, a second group could go on Wednesday, and a third group could go Friday. All of the classes would be video recorded so students can watch them when they are not coming in person.
As you view your schedule, any BlendFlex model classes will be among the courses designated as a face-to-face modality. Classes that will follow the BlendFlex model will have notes added in myUCF that indicate the class will follow the BlendFlex approach; however, we are still in the process of adding those notes. Specific details such as which day you will attend class in person will be determined later by the faculty member.
For students in classes that are entirely taught online, more information on resources related to learning online is available on the UCF Keep Learning website.
A key to the success of our online classes has been the robust training UCF provides faculty members who teach online. Many faculty who teach online have completed a comprehensive, 80-hour program to help them teach most effectively in that format.
How to View Your Schedule and Next Steps
To view your class schedule on myUCF, take the following steps:
- In myUCF, go to Student Center and then select Class Schedule in the box with “Other Academics.”
- Click on the blue section number for the course you wish to view. You can see the class format under “Instruction Mode.”
- More information may be posted under the Notes section. For example, designations of the BlendFlex mode, when applicable, will be posted under Notes.
If you are satisfied with your updated schedule, you do not need to take any action. Your registration in a class remains in place even if the format was changed.
If you wish to make any changes to your class schedule, you can do so through myUCF.
If you have questions about your schedule or your class options, I encourage you to contact your college’s advising office, or your program or department advisor. They can help you answer questions and also provide you with guidance on how you can best stay on your path to graduation. Students who are undeclared should contact the Knights Major Exploration and Transition Center. You can find contact information for advising offices on the Academic Success website.
We know that many of you are eager to return to campus, while others prefer to continue learning remotely, and our goal is to give all students high-quality options in all formats.
I thank you for your perseverance and flexibility as COVID-19 has dramatically changed how you learn, conduct research, participate in student activities and more.
For the sake of your health and well-being, your loved ones and your fellow Knights, please wear face coverings, practice physical distancing and wash your hands frequently. Armor Up, Knights, and Charge On!
Michael D. Johnson, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs