Academics

Fall semester

The fall semester will begin one week earlier than originally scheduled to allow more instructional time during the warmer months, prior to the start of the anticipated flu season in the colder months. View Rider's student checklist for a successful start to the semester.

Residential students will move out of the residence halls prior to Thanksgiving break and will have one additional week of remote instruction following the Thanksgiving week to maintain a required 13-week semester as follows: 

J-term and SP21 semester

All courses in J-term will be delivered remotely, allowing students to stay home for an extended period during the winter months (from Thanksgiving to the start of the spring 2021 semester) where incidents of respiratory illnesses are normally heightened even under normal circumstances. 

Plans for the Spring 2021 semester are to be determined. Without a vaccine in place and/or a surge in COVID-19 cases, the spring 2021 semester may likely require similar considerations as those in place for fall 2020. Further guidance will be forthcoming.

Pending state and federal guidelines, fall classes at Rider will be delivered in three primary formats. This plan, agreed to by the AAUP, was developed to assure a safe and gradual return to the classroom, with a remote option for those with individual circumstances and concerns. Faculty will be given a choice of modalities for their course delivery, and students will be presented with a range of course delivery options, some of which they will be able to select, based on preference. All in person courses (whether fully on ground or a hybrid) will occur in classrooms and spaces that have been properly reorganized to accommodate proper physical distancing. 

• Fully in person
  • Faculty selecting this option will be responsible for submitting a detailed contingency plan for remote or hybrid instruction to their academic dean 
• Hybrid
  • Light hybrid: Students can expect up to six in-person meetings/semester with the rest of the course content delivered remotely (may be asynchronous, synchronous or a blend)
  • Heavy hybrid: Students can expect seven or more in-person meetings/semester with the rest of the course content delivered remotely (may be asynchronous, synchronous or a blend)
• Fully remote
  • Entirely remote instruction (may be asynchronous, synchronous or a blend)

The enhanced course roster (ECR) has now been updated to reflect the modalities for each course. Please use the ECR and myRider to review how each of the classes on your schedule this fall will be offered (fully in-person, hybrid, or fully remote).

Schedule Changes based on Modality

We understand that you may have a compelling need to switch a course or two to a different modality.

• For classes where there are open seats: changes may be made directly through myRider.
• For classes that are closed: modality-based changes may be requested using the Modality Change Request form. Requests will be approved where possible, within federal and state safety guidelines.

All remote courses will require students to have access to a personal computer equipped with a webcam and microphone and access to a high-speed internet service provider. For assistance with technology needs, please visit the Rider University OIT website.

We expect to announce significant changes to residential housing for the fall semester very shortly. We strongly recommend that you wait for further guidance on housing to make final changes to your academic schedule.

Glossary of terms for instructional modalities:

• Hybrid: Courses that have a mix of remote and in person components
• Remote: Content delivered virtually, rather than face-to-face
• Synchronous: Content delivered virtually through meetings at specific times
• Asynchronous: Content delivered virtually without real-time interaction
• Online: Primarily asynchronous; no required preset meeting time(s)
• Blended Remote: A blend of asynchronous and required synchronous meetings; any synchronous meetings will occur at the designated course meeting time
• Fully Synchronous Remote: Consists entirely of synchronous sessions; all course meetings will occur at the designated course meeting time
• In person: Content delivered through face-to-face meetings; will follow social distancing guidelines and take place in de-densified classrooms/spaces

Decisions about students studying abroad will be determined based on CDC guidance and travel ban limitations. Upcoming study tours may be postponed or canceled. Non-essential travel should be avoided, especially to areas of heightened COVID-19 activity (hot spots). Individuals are encouraged to visit the CDC’s webpage for the latest guidance on travel.