Information for teaching staff
As decided by the Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University is switching to distance teaching and assessment from Wednesday 18 March 2020 onwards.
Vice-Chancellor's decision on exemptions from remote assessment (2020-05-19).
Vice-Chancellor’s decision 2020-05-19 on measures in response to the spread of COVID-19.
The Vice-Chancellor has also decided that departures from course and programme syllabuses will be allowed as regards the modes of assessment and teaching to enable remote delivery. Decisions on departures from the syllabus will be made by the body or person that approved the course or programme syllabus concerned.
Note that departures are only to be made where really necessary – in many cases, it is possible to carry out both teaching and assessment in new ways without departing from the syllabus.
If the syllabus contains this formulation, it can be used to adapt the mode of examination to the current situation:
“If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University’s disability coordinator.”
Please note that many issues currently have to be managed at local (department) level, as different circumstances apply to different courses and programmes. The solutions identified may depend on the size and composition of student groups, syllabuses, instruction, modes of assessment, familiarity with digital tools, etc.
If the syllabus has to be changed or departures are made from the syllabus
What is stated in the syllabus, e.g. about assessment and intended learning outcomes, still applies exactly as usual. If the syllabus does not specify the number of lectures, these can be modified if the teacher’s resources are needed elsewhere. Note that the decision on departures from approved course syllabuses only concerns the type of instruction and mode of examination and that this must be done without compromising quality. Also, do not forget that the right body/person must change the syllabus if necessary (check the delegation arrangements), document any departures from the syllabus and do not forget student influence!
Note that it is not permitted to change the grading system in the syllabus.
Placements
Those who are responsible for host organisations are responsible for placements and decide whether students can be there. As long as they are welcome, they can be there (this is not affected by the Vice-Chancellor’s decision). The department should be prepared to deal with cases in which a placement cannot be carried out because the workplace closes. It may be helpful to consider the following aspects:
- How much of the placement has been carried out, i.e., is it possible to grade the performance? If there is a sufficient basis for assigning a grade (pass or fail), a grade can be assigned even though the entire period to be spent at the workplace has not been carried out.
- If the placement has to be interrupted prematurely because the workplace closes and there is insufficient basis for assigning a grade, the placement will have to be repeated and the department needs to be prepared to deal with this. The department will then have to organise a placement at another time when a place is available.
Study advisers and programmes should also be prepared to make individual changes to students’ study paths (draw up individual study plans). If a student should be sent home from the workplace for some reason, it should be investigated whether there is a suitable course that they could do now instead so as not to lose their student finance.
Digital teaching
You can find information in the Staff Portal about how to use digital tools in your teaching.
Help students as best possible in the current circumstances, using all the digital tools the University has to offer. Make things as easy as possible for both teachers and students.
Uppsala University Library
Uppsala University Library keeps open for studies and research, with some altered routines. The Library has also made a significant strengthening in their digital services.
Alternatives to supervised exams
One alternative to a supervised exam is a take-home exam, another alternative is an oral exam. The size of the group and the nature of the subject are the decisive factors. We will publish further information about what to bear in mind as quickly as we can.
Cheating/plagiarism/fraud in examinations
Be sure to make it clear to students what types of study aids and cooperation are permitted in the case of take-home exams, for example. Suspected cheating must be reported to the Disciplinary Board as usual (but it may be a good idea to remind students of this).
Laboratory sessions
Could these be rearranged as demonstrations that can be recorded or broadcast live? Is it possible to come up with other ways of teaching/learning the same thing? Practical exercises may have to be moved to another time (August?), but other aspects could perhaps be achieved by means of simulations, descriptions, films, etc. Document what you do!
Vice-Chancellor's decision on exemptions from remote assessment (2020-05-19).
Field trips
Could they be replaced with something else (or even carried out exactly or partly as planned)? How about films and/or independent work as an alternative?
Vice-Chancellor's decision on exemptions from remote assessment (2020-05-19).
Marking
When designing new types of exams, think about how to make sure teachers will be able to mark them. It may be necessary to deviate from the 25 calendar days the teachers normally have at their disposal (but try to make the exams as easy to mark as possible).
CSN (Swedish Board of Student Finance)
CSN has information on its website about the current situation. Certain relief measures have been brought in for students. In some cases, CSN demands documentation of changes made in the student’s programme and when examinations take place, so find a system for remembering this.