As previously announced, most spring courses will begin in an online-only format to reduce the density of people on campus and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Some courses have been exempted from this requirement due to the nature of the course. In addition, all individual study courses where students and instructors meet one-on-one are also exempted from the online-only requirement. These courses include independent research courses, directed reading courses, or other courses where students and instructors meet individually. These courses may proceed as originally planned.
There are provisions for international students. As many of you are aware, international students with F-1 and J-1 visas who arrived in the United States after March 9, 2020, must have at least one three-hour course that is recorded by the Office of the Registrar as “face-to-face” and that has not been moved to online-only instruction at the start of the semester.
Individual study courses can be used to meet this requirement, although we understand that such courses will not accommodate everyone. Therefore, we are discussing with some departments the possibility of opening in-person sections of some of our higher-demand courses to fulfill the face-to-face requirement.
International students will have through the normal two-week add/drop period (Jan. 25-Feb. 5) to secure a course that meets the face-to-face requirement. The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) has notified international students who fall into this category and instructed them to reach out to their departments to help them find a suitable course. Students who have any additional questions should contact their department or OISS.
Faculty and instructors who have additional questions should contact their department chair or their dean in schools that do not have departments.
Kind regards,
Reginald DesRoches, Provost
Visit Return to Rice to read additional COVID-19 related communications.