Follow this page for all the messaging sent to members of the Longhorn community from the Flags.
Guidance for Awarding Flag Credit for Courses Taken Pass/Fail Spring 2020
March 28
The Center for the Skills and Experience Flags wants to acknowledge all the hard work Flag instructors are doing in this difficult time. The university recently announced some changes to academic policies response to the disruptions this semester. One of these changes allows students to receive Flag credit for courses taken pass/fail in spring 2020.
Given the extraordinary circumstances that have led to this change, we encourage everyone to be mindful of new obstacles that students and instructors alike are facing. We have compiled some recommendations for teaching in this uncertain time on our Canvas pages.
To ensure that your students still receive sufficient Flag-related instruction, we recommend that they are asked to complete all course assignments, even if they are not awarded letter grades for them. If the changes you need to make to your course require significantly reducing Flag-related activities or content, please contact the appropriate Flag Coordinator for advice as soon as possible. We have also drafted a sample statement regarding the pass/fail option that you can adapt to your needs and share with your students:
Suggested Statement: Guidelines regarding the Pass /Fail Option for this course:
You all now have the option to declare this course pass/fail up until May 29, 2020. Typically, students electing to take a Flag course pass/fail would not satisfy the Flag degree requirement. Because of the unprecedented situation this semester, however, students who opt to take a spring 2020 Flagged course pass/fail will still satisfy the Flag degree requirement if they pass the course.
If you opt for pass/fail credit, here are the general requirements you will need to complete in order to pass this class:
- You will have to complete each required assignment. Assignments and due dates may have changed from our original syllabus, so please check our updated schedule in Canvas.
- You will be expected to continue ongoing engagement with the class in its online form. If you stop contributing to class altogether, this will not fulfill the requirement for “ongoing engagement.”
If you face circumstances that prevent you from completing assignments on time or contributing regularly as required, please contact me as soon as possible. I will work with you to accommodate your specific situation and needs as much as possible, and I am happy to discuss any questions you may have about the pass/fail option.
To Faculty Teaching Flagged Courses
March 18
We are here for you! The Center for the Skills and Experience Flags remains committed to supporting faculty during this challenging semester. The Curriculum Specialists are working remotely at this time and are available for faculty consultations and meetings via email or phone. This is new to all of us, but we will be working to the best of our ability to help you. Some areas where we can offer support are:
- Creating a communication plan for how to share changes with students and address their questions
- Identifying the appropriate tools for converting your current mode of instruction to online
- Reconfiguring classroom space and developing alternative instructional modes for classes that must continue to meet in person, such as laboratories and performing arts courses
We created a Canvas page with some helpful resources, which will be regularly updated with additional support for remote instruction. If you have questions or need support, please contact us directly at ugs-flags@austin.utexas.edu.