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Studying in the time of Coronavirus

Institutional Communication Service

28 August 2020

AUTUMN SEMESTER 2020-2021

Regarding the autumn semester 2020-2021, USI has decided that:

1. The autumn semester will, as far as possible, take place on the campuses.

2. Classes schedule will be extended to include - if necessary - also Saturdays.

Health regulations require a significant "social distance" to be maintained, which calls for the use of much larger classrooms with respect to the number of students. This requires an optimisation of the use of space.

3. Courses will take place in mixed mode: in attendance and online (usually 50% - 50%)

The availability of spaces does not allow, under the established requirements, to carry out all the courses in presence. Moreover, and more importantly, the situation is still very volatile, and it is possible that several people may not be able to attend courses on campuses for health and visa issues, due to decisions of their national authorities, or other valid reasons. The modalities and applications of this principle will be communicated in the near future to lecturers and students. 

4. Those who, for legitimate reasons, will not be able to attend classes on campus will be given support online in order to complete the semester.

USI aims to ensure the highest quality of teaching and learning for all students, including those who are temporarily or for the entire semester unable to attend classes in person.

To optimise the use of the classrooms and the students’ experience, USI-Com and USI-Eco courses will alternate, on a weekly basis, between campus presence and online training, according to the following directions:

  • Each course begins and ends in attendance.
  • In weeks when there is no classroom training, course content and activities shall be delivered online, (mainly) asynchronously, and available at the beginning of the week.
  • For those who cannot join the classroom, the content and activities of the classroom hours will also be offered online, by the end of the week.

EXAMS OF AUTUMN SESSION 2020

Also the exams scheduled for the autumn session of the academic year 2019-20 will be held digitally: this was established by a decision of the USI Management Committee that has been ratified on Thursday, 18 June, 2020 by the Academic Senate.

The Directive - available here - defines three specific examination procedures: "open book", oral or quiz, as well as the timing and the measures that were defined. 

The students manual has been updated with the main technical indications for the online exams of the autumn session 2020; you can find it in the attachments on this page.

 

Update of 20 April

The exams scheduled for the summer session of the academic year 2019-20 will be held digitally: this was established by a decision of the USI Management Committee that has been ratified on Friday, 17 April, 2020 by the Academic Senate.

The Directive - available here - defines three specific examination procedures: "open book", oral or quiz. The timing and measures were defined by weighing on the one hand the quality and rigour required for evaluation, and on the other hand the very particular conditions in which part of the semester was held, envisaging some solutions in the interest of the students.

The document also includes the reasons that led to this choice, which was drawn up in favour of the students and aimed at ensuring equal treatment, while protecting the health of the academic community as a whole. To date, it is impossible to determine the conditions under which it will be possible to access the campuses on the scheduled dates and, even if access were to be granted, new restrictive health measures could come into force at any time, making it difficult to carry out exams in person. In addition to this, several members of the community may - for different reasons - have not yet regained full autonomy to travel.

Update of 7 April

At its meeting on April 6, the Management Committee of USI has decided the following:

  • Distance learning will continue until the end of the semester
  • Traditions and relations with those close to us, families and stakeholders, will be kept alive by organising remote but interactive graduation ceremonies and the  Dies academicus will be prepared and made accessible in deferred time.
  • Short video presentations of our activities, a virtual tour of the campuses and interactions with those in charge of the training programs will be ensured for future students and for those who are interested in USI.
  • Our offer of scholarships will be enhanced in order to support those who want to study at USI and will be faced with difficulties.

Four are the principles that guide USI in its decisions:

  • Protect the safety of our academic community.
  • Seek solutions that will give continuity to our Institution, to contribute to preserving the social fabric.
  • Ensuring the academic offer even in such difficult and uncertain environment
  • Adhere to the decisions of the competent public authorities

Updates about some frequent questions:

    • Can I access the campus today?
      • Following the decisions of the authorities, students are not allowed on campus. However, in case of documented necessity (e.g. to fetch a study book left in a locker) students can access the campuses by appointment only and for a limited time.
      • Requests should be submitted to the respective Dean's office
    • Will the exams of the Summer session take place? How?
      • Yes, exams will be in session, with possible exceptions.
      • USI is still cautiously optimistic about the possibility of carrying out the exams on campus, but is still preparing a detailed plan B in case the campuses are still not accessible.
      • Details will be available on 30 April.
    • If I cannot manage to do a curricular internship, will I have to postpone my graduation?

 

Some useful suggestions from the Pro-Rector for Education and Students' Experience Lorenzo Cantoni for effective distance learning.

Distance learning is a fascinating and exicting challenge, which can require specific skills and talent.

Distance learning means:

 1. Responsibility

  • Organize your work in a systematic way: schedule your day as if you were on campus, keeping up with the different activities that are proposed to you
  • Check regularly the iCorsi platform, where your lecturers will regularly publish teaching materials and updates
  • Manage your study time carefully: don't let the flexibility of distance learning become an alibi for putting off individual study time
  • Stay focused on studying: multitasking is not always a positive thing. When you study or follow remotely a lesson don't get distracted by other online activities: in other words, don't let iCorsi compete with Netflix...

 2. Solidarity

  • Stay in touch with your classmates through forums, online chat or messaging systems, on iCorsi, or other online services
  • Share the experiences and strategies that have proved to be useful
  • Help those who cannot follow any distance learning activities

 3. Studying

  • Make sure you make enough time to study: distance learning requires just as much time as studying on campus!
  • Find a quiet place to study, enabling you to carry out the required activities with due tranquility
  • Explain to your family members that you are not playing Fortnite but that you're studying, so you shouldn't be disturbed
  • Plan for recess time and do some physical exercise between study sessions (such as those suggested by the USI Sport Service: you can follow their suggestions from the YouTube channel of USI in the playlist Pillole di sport, which will be constantly updated).

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