Policy Proposal Text

Remote Attendance Accessibility for Hartford Campus Courses

University of Connecticut, Hartford Campus

Submitted to: University of Connecticut, Hartford Campus 

Administration and Academic Affairs

Proposed by: Students of the University of Connecticut Hartford Campus

 

I.               WHEREAS, The University of Connecticut Hartford Regional Campus serves a diverse student population that includes commuter students, working professionals and nontraditional learners;

II.             WHEREAS, Many UConn Hartford students balance academic coursework with full- or part-time employment, internships, and family responsibilities;

III.           WHEREAS, Occasional scheduling conflicts, transportation challenges, illness, and emergency situations can prevent students from attending in-person classes even when they maintain the capability and willingness of participating remotely;

IV.          WHEREAS, Without remote attendance options, students are frequently placed in the untenable position of choosing between maintaining the employment necessary to support themselves and meet essential living expenses, including housing, or remaining engaged with their coursework; 

V.            WHEREAS, Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and federal regulations under 34 CFR § 668.2, establish that students must complete a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours per semester to remain eligible for full-time student status and federal financial aid; [1]

VI.          WHEREAS, The University of Connecticut has previously set precedent on the effectiveness of remote and hybrid instructional tools through platforms such as Zoom, Webex, and Blackboard Learn;

VII.        WHEREAS, Many University of Connecticut Hartford classrooms are already equipped with the technology necessary to support remote instruction and participation with minimal additional cost;

VIII.      WHEREAS, Providing remote attendance options would increase academic continuity, promote equitable access to education for all students, and improve student success at the Hartford campus;

IX.           WHEREAS, Synchronous remote attendance allows students to engage in real-time lectures, participate in live discussions, and interact with faculty and peers, thereby maintaining regular and substantive interaction required for academic excellence;

 

1.     THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED, That the student body calls upon the administration of the University of Connecticut to adopt a policy requiring all Hartford campus courses to provide remote attendance options in addition to in-person instruction;

2.     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the student body calls on the administration to amend its ‘non-attendance taking institution policy’ to prohibit its faculty, staff, and professors from using physical presence as the sole metric for participation grades, and allow a grievance policy for failure to comply with this amended policy;

3.     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That students should have reasonable access to instructional content when circumstances prevent physical attendance; 

4.     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That faculty shall provide a meeting link for every scheduled instruction session to ensure that students facing aforementioned untenable positions fulfill their 12-credit hour requirement without physical presence;

5.     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That “remote attendance” be defined as synchronous participation via university-approved platforms (e.g., Zoom or Webex), ensuring that remote students are held to the same academic excellence standards of engagement and real-time contribution as their in-person counterparts;

6.     BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to University of Connecticut Hartford campus administration and relevant academic leadership for consideration and implementation.

 
[1] 34 C.F.R. § 668.2 - General definitions. Available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-668/subpart-A/section-668.2