Academic/Instructional Continuity

Maintaining instructional continuity is central to MTSU’s academic mission and to supporting faculty and students. Technological advancements in learning delivery methods allow us to significantly improve our capacity to plan for a range of scenarios, and to respond to on-campus disruptions when they arise.

MTSU’s Academic Continuity Committee is responsible for evaluating needs and providing guidance to ensure continuity across instruction, research, and service. Its membership includes representatives from the Provost’s Office, Deans, Council of Chairs, Faculty Senate, Student Affairs, Student Health Services, Disability and Access Center, University Police Department, Campus Planning, Facilities Services, Information Technology Division, Institutional Equity and Compliance, and University Counsel.

Throughout 2024, the Academic Continuity Committee developed and refined the Instructional Continuity Plan linked below. This document summarizes the principles and guidelines supporting institutional preparedness and response when inclement weather and/or other emergencies disrupt university operations. When the Provost activates this plan (in cases of inclement weather or other disruption), faculty and students will continue instructional activities remotely. This means that individual instructors must maintain continuity plans for their courses and will communicate these plans to students in advance and during disruption of classes. These may include guidelines for pivoting to remote synchronous learning, a shift to asynchronous information in the learning management system (i.e., D2L), asynchronous assignments, or other instructional methods. Courses not typically meeting on-ground (e.g., online, remote, etc.) will continue with normal operations.

What this means for faculty:

1. First, flexibility for faculty and students is both encouraged and recommended when serious disruptions limit or prevent course access or communication with students (i.e., interruption of electricity, cell, or Internet services).
2. In the event of inclement weather or other emergency disruption to on-ground classes, Provost Byrnes will communicate directly with faculty if this instructional continuity plan is activated. In this case, you should make every effort to continue instructional activities remotely (assuming that power and internet services are operational). This may include pivoting to remote synchronous learning, shifting to asynchronous information in the learning management system (i.e., D2L), communicating asynchronous assignments, or applying other instructional methods. Those choices are left to you in your classes.
3. Designated online, remote, and other distance education courses will proceed normally (although again, flexibility is essential).
4. Plan in advance of potential disruptions. Include continuity guidelines in your course syllabi (sample statement below) and clearly communicate with students via e-mail if/when this plan is activated. 
5. In the event of an extended crisis, MTSU will create a strategy to support faculty and students who need further assistance. For short-term events, students who credibly report power or internet outages or who lack personal computers to pivot from in-person to remote learning must not be penalized.

Sample Syllabus Statement – Instructional Continuity Planning

In the event of inclement weather or other emergencies, MTSU may enact an instructional continuity plan to ensure that coursework continues remotely. Students should check their university email regularly and enable notifications in D2L for important updates. Class meetings will likely shift to remote or online formats, and assignments may be adjusted as needed. Please stay informed and be prepared to follow e-mail instructions from your professor regarding any course changes during disruptions.

Useful Links:

MTSU Instructional Continuity Plan – Executive Summary

MTSU Instructional Continuity Plan

MTSU Policy 725 Inclement Weather

MTSU Policy 828 Employee Attendance during Inclement Weather

If you have questions about instructional and/or academic continuity, please contact Dr. Brian Hinote, Vice Provost for Faculty & Strategic Initiatives.