[4/23 Update] Contingency Plan
for conducting classes after May 4th
In the notice as of April 13, we
informed you that the mandatory implementation of online lectures was to be
extended to May 2nd and that plans for conducting classes after May
4th would be announced immediately after the decision of the
Academic Affairs Committee on April 22nd in accordance with the
government's quarantine guidelines for the COVID-19 virus.
As you may well know, the
government announced that it will extend nationwide social distancing
implemented in a slightly relaxed form until May 5th and announced
plans to transition to 'everyday life quarantine' starting May 6th if the
COVID-19 situation becomes reliably and consistently manageable.
In the last few days, the number
of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 hovered around 10, suggesting a stable
downward trend compared to the last two months. However, the government is
maintaining a very cautious position regarding elementary, middle, and high
school students returning to school.
In consideration of the above
circumstances and the situation of online lectures conducted at the university,
the Academic Affairs Committee has decided as follows:
1. Physically-attended
classes will be permitted from May 11th on the condition it be
provided in parallel, both online and offline.
:
Physically-attended classes are permitted on the condition that the content be
1) delivered online in real-time or 2) taped or recorded and provided as online
content to allow students who could not or did not attend physically-attended
classes to be able to participate online.
2. For small classes of 30
people or less, conducting physically-attended classes is also possible but
only with the consent of all students and securing a classroom that allows
distancing.
: Particularly, for lectures where online education is not appropriate,
such as lab training, if the above two conditions are met, classes may be
conducted solely through a physical-attendance format and online content need
not be provided.
3. If
physical-attendance classes are conducted, all necessary quarantine measures
will be fully and faithfully implemented in accordance with the government's
quarantine guidelines.
: The government has provided quarantine guidelines for physically-attended
classes for universities and colleges in the event social distancing transitions
to normal distancing behavior. When physically-attended classes are conducted,
we plan to diligently implement the government's preventive guidelines. We
encourage all students and faculty members of Korea University to strictly
follow personal quarantine guidelines as doing so will help prevent undesirable
outcomes in physically-attended classes. The government will provide guidance
on the details of the preventive guidelines, which will be provided separately.
4. From May 6th to 8th,
university buildings will be opened for three days in preparation for
physically-attended classes and pilot measures will be implemented.
: To prepare for physically-attended classes, for three days starting on
May 6th we will pilot necessary preventive measures such as conducting
fever checks, providing hand disinfection, and ensuring that masks are worn.
Preventive measures will be developed and enforced at the school head office
level. Please cooperate with the preventive measures when entering or leaving
the campus.
5. Conducting the entire
semester through online courses is still possible.
: Conducting online lectures without physically-attended classes for the
rest of the semester is still possible, depending on the opinions of the
professor in charge and the students. We will continue striving to improve the
quality of online lectures.
6. In executing parallel online
and offline courses, students should not face any disadvantage regardless of
their chosen method of participation.
: In terms of class quality and grade evaluation, students who
participate only online should not be differentiated from those who participate
in person on campus.
7. Attendance requirements
during the mandatory period for online lectures should be minimally or not be
reflected in grades.
: Korea University has implemented autonomy over attendance
verification as a school policy. In addition, online class attendance
checks are less guaranteed than physically-attended lectures. Therefore, in
principle, attendance during the mandatory period for online lectures should be
minimally or not be reflected in grades.
No one can predict when and how
the COVID-19 issue, which seems to be managed stably at this time, will change.
If the situation changes, lecture requirements and details of the preventive
guidelines may change as well. As we have mentioned repeatedly, we are faced
with an unprecedented situation and we are dealing with measures to address
this for the first time. We would like to thank you for your continued support
and understanding.