PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (August 23, 2021) – Monday, August 23, begins a brand new academic school year at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), and for the first time in over a year, its students will return fully to face-to-face instruction. While only a small percentage of coursework will be offered in hybrid and online modalities, as was done before the pandemic, students, faculty and staff alike are looking forward to new beginnings.

The guide below details PVAMU’s fall 2021 semester plans, including several essential items for students beginning or continuing their studies.

COVID-19 Safety

Testing is required of students moving into on-campus residential housing, but vaccination is the most effective way to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Vaccinations are, therefore, strongly encouraged. Contact Health Services at 936-261-1410 to schedule an appointment. Testing will be offered at the main campus through the Curative kiosk throughout the fall semester.

Classroom Safety

Occupancy levels of classrooms and labs will return to 100%. However, every effort will be made to place courses in larger settings where available. Current cleaning protocols will also remain in place. These include disinfecting facilities and scheduling time for deep cleaning during the day between classes at select times. Seating charts will also be encouraged to assist with contact tracing.

Temporary Class Attendance Policy

Faculty will record attendance and report absences per the Attendance Reporting schedule as determined by the Office of the Registrar. Students who are sick or quarantined due to COVID-19-related illnesses or exposure must not attend in-person class sessions. They should follow the guidelines posted at www.pvamu.edu/coronavirus under Student FAQs. Students will not be required to provide documentation for absences of less than two weeks and will not be penalized for absences. However, if a student has to miss more than two weeks, a doctor’s note must be provided to the Division of Student Affairs, Dean of Students.

If possible, students who miss class due to illness should:

  • Notify instructor of record by email in advance of missing class;
  • Attend and/or review online lectures or materials to stay abreast of all class notes or materials;
  • Email the instructor, saying they have viewed the Zoom video for the day, or other interaction;
  • Email the instructor regularly regarding assignments, etc.;
  • Submit assignments electronically, if permissible;
  • Reschedule all face-to-face exams and/or assignments with their instructor.

The following are some examples that demonstrate active participation by a student for the purpose of financial aid attendance reporting:

  • Attending asynchronous class, lecture, field or laboratory activity, physically or online, where there is an opportunity for interaction between the instructor and students;
  • Submitting an academic assignment;
  • Taking an assessment or an exam;
  • Participating in an interactive tutorial, webinar, or other interactive computer-assisted instruction;
  • Participating in a study group, group project, or an online discussion that is assigned;
  • Interacting with an instructor about academic matters.

Academic Support

In-person advising and tutoring services will return this fall, and virtual support will also take place during pre-scheduled times. Full-time faculty will be required to hold a minimum of six office hours per week on at least two days during the week. Students can expect some hours to be held virtually.

Pass/No Pass Grading Option

Due to the return of face-to-face teaching, the Pass/Not Pass (P/NP) grading option will not be used in the fall.

Mini-Mester

PVAMU held its first mini-mester courses last January, and these will be offered again to support students to remain enrolled and progressing through the pandemic. Courses will be offered online and will be compressed and intense. Options will be available for viewing and registration in November.

Ongoing Safety

Working together, the PVAMU community can ensure a successful start and finish to the fall semester. Students are encouraged to continue to stay safe and follow safety protocols. Additional PVAMU COVID-19 processes, FAQs and announcements can be found at www.pvamu.edu/coronavirus.

-PVAMU-