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Understanding Online Classes

Classes can be taught in a variety of ways.  When registering for classes and checking your schedule, it is important to pay attention to which mode of instruction your class will be taught in:

Face-to-Face: All instruction occurs in a designated campus location (classroom) during regularly scheduled predetermined days and times (synchronous) for which instructor and students are physically present throughout; will require detailed health and safety protocols for engagement among faculty and students.

Hybrid Asynchronous: Student learning occurs both in scheduled in-person class meetings during specific published times and locations, and in asynchronous online class interactions.  Typically, hybrid asynchronous classes will meet for fewer hours in person than standard in person classes, with more out of class work required.  

Hybrid Synchronous: Student learning occurs both in scheduled in-person class meetings during specific published times and locations, and in synchronous online class meetings during specific published times.  Typically, hybrid synchronous classes will meet for fewer hours in person than standard in person classes, but will have required online class meetings.

Asynchronous Online: Student learning occurs exclusively online, asynchronously; no convenings of the entire class; student engagement with the faculty member occurs as requested via a digital modality. There will be no scheduled meeting times either online or in person.

Blended Online: Student learning occurs online, asynchronously, but with pre-scheduled synchronous in-virtual convenings of the entire class (e.g. via ZOOM).

Synchronous Online: Student learning occurs exclusively online, during regularly scheduled predetermined days and times, for which instructor and students are virtually present throughout (e.g. via ZOOM).

Hy-Flex: Classes listed as Hy-Flex will have students attending both online and in person, using technology that allows all participants to interact, regardless of physical location.  Note: students registering for Hy-Flex sections should not assume that they will be allowed to participate in class solely online.

Students can search for a specific mode of instruction using class search.  Under Additional Search Criteria, there is a category called Mode of Instruction with a drop down menu of various modes of instruction.  Students will want to search on In Person, Hybrid/Asynchronous, Hybrid/Synchronous, Asynchronous Online, Blended Modality, or Synchronous Online. Special instructions relevant to your class can be found in the class notes prior to the beginning of the semester.  Please check your schedule and any notes right before the beginning of the semester.