NEWS

Modes of instruction for AY2022

Update: March 1, 2022

To all students

This is a general explanation of the policy about modes of instruction at ICU for AY2022. The policy described here will apply to the entire 2022 academic year, although adjustments will be made before Autumn Term and Winter Term as conditions change.

The most important feature of the policy is that we will begin a return to face-to-face teaching in AY2022. Most teaching will be done face-to-face, but online teaching in some classes will continue, and as long as there is a risk of future waves of infection of the coronavirus it may be necessary to implement online teaching in all classes on short notice.

　

1. Face-to-face classes

A. General policy:
Most classes will be held face-to-face.

B. Emergency response:
When necessary as an emergency response to coronavirus infections, it may be necessary to teach some or all face-to-face classes online for limited periods of time. Examples of conditions that may require an emergency response include a large cluster of coronavirus infections on campus or a declaration of a state of emergency, etc. by the government. The decision to implement an emergency response will be made based on the university's BCP (Business Continuity Plan).

C. Accommodating individual needs:
In some individual situations (either among students or among faculty), face-to-face courses may be taught online for short periods of time or in hybrid mode.

　

2. Online classes

A. Large classes:
To reduce crowding in the classrooms, large classes (with expected enrollments of 100 or more students based on the data from the past three years) will be taught online during Spring Term 2022. Depending on novel coronavirus conditions, large classes may also be taught online in Autumn and Winter Terms.

B. Online classes for special purposes:
Small or medium sized classes may be designated as online courses for special purposes. These purposes include the need for classes for online exchange programs and for degree-seeking students who are still overseas. These cases will be discussed in more detail below.

　

3. Hybrid classes

In AY2022, the hybrid mode will not be a standard mode of teaching, but in limited situations it may be necessary to permit some non-standard uses of hybrid teaching.

A. We may ask faculty members to allow some students who have special circumstances (see sections 4 and 5 below) to participate online in a course that is offered face-to-face. These face-to-face courses will be offered in a "limited hybrid" manner that will permit online participation only by approved students.

B. Faculty may (but are not required to) permit students who are ill or in isolation to participate online in a face-to-face course for a few days.

　

4. Special considerations for overseas students who cannot enter Japan because of government restrictions

A. JLP classes:
During Spring Term AY2022, and for later terms if necessary, JLP courses will be taught in hybrid mode. This is the same approach that JLP used for Winter AY2021. All JLP classes will be taught according to regular class schedules set on Japan Standard Time.

B. ELA classes:
In principle, ELA classes will be taught face-to-face, but students who are taking classes from overseas will be able to take their classes online. All ELA classes will be taught according to regular class schedules set on Japan Standard Time.

C. Physical Education classes:
Most required PE classes will be taught face-to-face. Some required PE classes will be taught online. Students will be able to choose which mode of PE courses they want to take without submitting a petition. PE classes will not be taught in hybrid mode. Most elective PE classes will be taught face-to-face.

D. Online courses available for overseas students:
For Spring Term AY2022, students who are overseas will be able to enroll in any large courses that will be offered online. Since many of these courses are offered in Japanese, and since many overseas students need to take courses in English, a specified selection of small and middle-sized courses offered in English will also be designated as online courses.

E. Cases where overseas degree-seeking students ask to participate online in face-to-face courses:
In some limited situations, it may be necessary to ask instructors to allow some students to participate online in a course that is offered face-to-face (limited hybrid mode).

1. This option will be limited primarily to degree-seeking students who live overseas. For overseas students to use this option, they need to submit a petition (explained in section 6 below).
2. This option is necessary for students who may not be able to graduate on time if they are not able to take the course during Spring Term AY2022.
3. This option will not be available to One-Year-Regular（OYR） students.

　

5. Special considerations for students living in Japan

A. General policy:
Students who are living in Japan will be expected to participate face-to-face in classes that are offered in that mode of instruction.

B. Exceptions:
Students who are unable to participate in classes face-to-face may submit a petition to participate online in face-to-face courses. They can do so using the procedure explained in section 6. These exceptions will apply where students themselves have a medical condition that prevents vaccination, or they or their family have a serious situation that makes it difficult or dangerous for them to participate in classes face-to-face.

　

6. Petitions for permission to participate online in face-to-face courses

A. Students (whether overseas or in Japan) who want to apply for permission to participate online in face-to-face courses must submit two types of petitions. The first petition will explain their need to take courses online ("Petition for permission based on special conditions"). If the first petition is approved, the students ("approved students") may submit a second petition that requests permission to participate online in specific face-to-face courses ("Petition for specific courses").

B. In cases where a petition for specific courses has been approved, the course instructors should limit online access to the class to the approved students.

　

7. Flexible responses in case of illness or quarantine (in the case of faculty)

Instructors who are experiencing symptoms that may indicate a COVID-19 infection should report their situation to the Health Care Office and to the CLA Dean (or GS Dean for Graduate School courses).
Instructors may be required to isolate themselves because of their exposure to a person who has a coronavirus infection.

　

8. Flexible responses in case of illness or quarantine (in the case of students)

Students who are experiencing symptoms that may indicate a COVID-19 infection should report their situation to the Health Care Office and to the instructors of the courses they are taking.
Students may be required to isolate themselves because they are a close contact of a person who has a coronavirus infection.

　

9. Maintaining safe classrooms

Standard practices to maintain classroom safety will continue, such as wearing masks, maintaining distance between students, and using air filters in classrooms. Students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to remain fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

Robert Eskildsen, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Yoshito Ishio, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts
Tsuyosi Mizoguchi, Dean of the Graduate School