Carnegie Mellon University

Teaching & Learning Modalities in S3

Course delivery modalities refer to how a course is offered by the instructor (i.e., in-person, remote). In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a variety of course delivery modalities were created to provide flexibility related to campus posture changes.

Course modalities are displayed in the S3 Admin Console and S3 Faculty Course & Grade Info page for staff and faculty, as well as in Student Information Online (SIO), the Schedule of Classes and Stellic for students. 

Requests for changes to instructional modalities must be approved by your college's associate dean and sent to the University Registrar directly.

Course delivery modalities refer to how a course is offered by the instructor (i.e., in-person, remote). Below is a listing of possible course modalities and their abbreviations as displayed in S3 and other applications:

Course Delivery Modes

IPE:  In-Person Expectation

Delivered in-person (such as in a classroom). Students are expected to be in the classroom during the course's scheduled meeting time. 

IPO:  In-Person Only

Delivered in-person (such as in a classroom). Students will be in the classroom during the course’s scheduled meeting time. Reserved for courses where classroom facilities are required.

REO:  Remote Only

Delivered remotely via technology. Students will attend remotely during the course’s scheduled meeting time.

PER:  In-Person Expectation Rotation

Delivered in-person (such as in a classroom) with students attending on a rotating basis. When "off rotation," students do asynchronous coursework (i.e., watch a video, read/review material); they do not attend synchronously via Zoom. 

IPR:  In-Person + Remote

Uses a combined approach of in-person attendance (such as in a classroom) and remote technology. Students may choose to attend in-person or remotely during the course’s scheduled meeting time.

IRR:  In-Person (Rotation) + Remote

Uses a combined approach of remote technology and rotating in-person attendance (i.e., if a course meets on MW, some attend in-person on M and remotely on W, while others attend remotely on M and in-person on W). Students may choose to attend in-person or remotely during the course’s scheduled meeting time.

IPT: In-Person + Technology

Delivered in a classroom via synchronous technology while the instructor is at a different teaching location. Students are expected to be in the classroom during the course’s scheduled meeting time. IPT courses meet the criteria to be considered in-person for international students to align with immigration regulations and remote to align with federal financial aid requirements.

The following are examples of how course delivery modalities are displayed in S3 and other online course tools: 

On the course roster page, a new “Time Zone” field will display to show the student’s reported time zone. Also, if the course-section is delivered remotely, “CMU REMOTE” will display under "BLDG/ROOM." If "TBA" appears under "BLDG/ROOM," a learning space has not yet been assigned.

 

Under "Section Details," the delivery mode for the course-section has been added. 

 

Student reported time zones have also been added to the "Download CSV Roster" file, available via a gear wheel on the Course Roster page. 

The student's self-reported time zone information has been added to the advising roster to assist with advising and office hour planning. 

On the homepage, instructors can view delivery mode abbreviations and descriptions.

 

Under their course-sections, instructors can view the delivery mode in which their course will be delivered under the “MODE” field.  Also, if the course-section is delivered remotely, “CMU REMOTE” will display under "BLDG/ROOM." If "TBA" appears under "BLDG/ROOM," a learning space has not yet been assigned; however, the section will be either IPR or IRR.

 

Student reported time zones have also been added to the "Download CSV Roster" file, available via a gear wheel on the Faculty Course & Grade Info page. 

Courses in the Schedule of Classes (SOC) and Stellic Academic Audit application have been updated to show the stretched daily schedule and building/room assignments.

Note: Course Attendance

The expectation is that students attend courses during the course meeting’s scheduled day and time (synchronously); however, some instructors may have other preferred course formats. For example, some may prefer to offer a pre-recorded course (asynchronously) to better accommodate students in different time zones.


Distance Education Modalities Regulatory Requirements

A memo has been created for CMU faculty and instructors of record that provides information on meeting current Department of Education regulatory requirements for distance education courses as a result of amendments to key definitions involving distance education effective July 1, 2021. Learn more