Responses to Inquiries - Fall 2021 Plans

Dr. Gene Bourgeois, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs | July 29, 2021


The purpose of the following message is to provide responses to several recurring inquiries.  Please continue to monitor your Texas State University email account and the university’s Roadmap for additional information and updates.  Thank you. 

Fall 2021 Course Syllabi

As customary, faculty and staff will receive information regarding statements and recommendations for fall 2021 syllabi, including information specific to health and safety protocols and related areas.  The email will be entitled “Information to Include in Fall 2021 Course Syllabi” and will be sent during the week of August 9, 2021.  This is a bit later than usual due to the potential for changing conditions.  Instructors will have information in time to complete their course syllabi.

Face Covering Protocol 

Per standing guidance from Governor Abbott’s Executive Order of May 18, 2021, and confirmed by The Texas State University System’s Office of the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel, we are not able to require face coverings.  We want members and guests of the university community to feel safe and comfortable, so face coverings are welcome.  

While offices and employees cannot require that face coverings be worn, they may ask visitors/patrons/guests not wearing a face covering if they would like a face covering.  Department heads may place an order for face coverings by completing the COVID-19 Department Order Form. 

The university’s 12 Health and Safety Guidelines recommend that everyone, vaccinated and unvaccinated, wear face coverings indoors.  Face coverings are not necessary outdoors but are recommended for unvaccinated persons in crowded settings.  

Alternatives to face to face meetings in small spaces include accessing larger spaces, video conferencing in Teams or Zoom, telephone calls, and others. 

University Convocation and Annual General Faculty Meeting

Convocation will be held in Strahan Arena at the University Events Center on Friday, August 20, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.  The arena set-up, including the platform, video and audio projection, and seating arrangements, will be the same as commencement.  This will allow significant social distancing opportunities.  The event will be live-streamed so that friends and family may enjoy from afar.  Please watch your Texas State email for event reminders and more information on seating arrangements.

Schedules and Class Instruction Modes

Class selections and student schedules for the fall 2021 semester are complete for the vast majority of Texas State students.  Continuing students began registering on March 29, 2021.  Tuition and fee statements are available to students next Monday, August 2, 2021 and payments are due August 19, 2021.

Instructor requests to change a class instruction mode should be rare and carefully assessed, since changes may have multiple ramifications via: student expectations and learning preferences, required certification for faculty to teach hybrid/online, student immigration status and regulatory requirements, on-campus or off-campus student residential status, new or different charges on tuition and fee statements, classroom availability and utilization, student transition time to other classes, and so forth.  Changes based on other university policy and procedures, such as ADA accommodations, proceed independently. 

Instruction Mode Definitions:

The University Registrar defines a face to face class and other instruction modes in its documentation for producing the Schedule of Classes.  These definitions are below. 

FTF- At least 85% is taught face to face 

INT- At least 85% of the section is taught via the internet

HYB- 50-85% of the section is taught via the internet, the other portion is taught face to face

ITV- Section is taught via two-interactive video

MEM- 50% of the section is taught via electronic instruction other than ITV or online

VTV- Section is taught by video tape and/or Broadcast TV