Definitions and Coding for Teaching Modalities

Experience with remote teaching sparked faculty interest in new methods of instruction, but also blurred the lines of distinction between various technology-enhanced contexts. In response, the Office of the Provost and the Office of the Registrar have been working together to develop common definitions for a wider range of teaching modalities. Academic units can use the information on Campus Code and Instructional Method provided below to accurately reflect the intended modality.

When searching for classes, students are currently able to filter by Location to view: Eugene classes, Portland classes, Charleston classes, or online classes. UO is working to enhance these filtering options to include Instructional Method, thereby helping students to make more informed choices when registering for classes.

Academic departments are encouraged to build their schedules with these modalities in CourseLeaf Section Scheduler (CLSS) using the definitions and coding practices below, although instructional methods will not be searchable by students until further programming is completed.

Campus Code

Campus Code is used to delineate the location of each class. Codes are listed below in parentheses, followed by definitions. The most frequently used campus codes include:

(I)     Eugene – UO main campus – used for all classes that meet in a classroom on campus, including hybrid classes.  Also used for campus-based Independent/Individualized Study classes that do not have meeting dates.

(P)    Portland – used for classes that meet in-person in Portland, including hybrid classes.  Also used for Portland-based Independent/Individualized Study classes that do not have meeting dates.

(V)   Online – used for ALL WEB Asynchronous and WEB Synchronous classes, regardless of “home” campus

(D)   SW Oregon Coast area – used for classes that meet on the OIMB campus in Charleston

(N)   Off-site Independent Study - used for independent or individualized study sections that do not require any contact on campus or any campus resources

In addition to identifying location, Campus Codes affect the mandatory fees for which students are charged.  For example, a student who is registered only for classes that are V – Online and/or N- Off-site Independent Study will pay different mandatory fees from a student who is registered for classes that meet on the main campus, or a student who is registered for classes on the Portland campus.  A student who is registered for any Main Campus class (regardless of the campus code of other classes) will be charged the on-campus mandatory fees for a term. Note that the mandatory fees is separate from specific course fees (e.g., material fees, individual online course fees, lab fees, etc.)

Instructional Method

(IP)   In Person – In person instruction in a classroom setting.  The instructor and students meet in the same room at the same time.

(IS)   Independent/Individualized Study – Individual research or independent study allows a student to work under the individual guidance of a faculty member.

(HY) Hybrid – Hybrid classes combine reduced classroom instruction with additional online instruction.  All students attend class in person, but the amount of time spent in the classroom is reduced from the standard number of meeting hours per credit and replaced by online learning activities. 

(DD) Asynchronous Online – Asynchronous Online classes are offered fully online with no scheduled meeting dates or times.

(SN) Synchronous Online – Synchronous Online classes are offered fully online with students required to participate in online meetings/lectures on specific days and at specific times. Synchronous Online classes are an exception at UO that  requires permission of the Provost's Office. Requests to schedule Synchronous Online classes should include pedagogical and programmatic rationale. 

Dual Location, HyFlex, and Blended Classes

There is no Campus Code or Instructional Method for Dual Location, HyFlex, or Blended classes. These three modalities will be achieved by merging or linking classes, as illustrated by examples below.

Dual location or Hyflex classes result in a mixed-mode cohort of students.

Example A (Dual Location): An in-person class in Portland might be connected to an in-person class in Eugene. The class might then be conducted via Zoom, with students and the instructor in one location while other students and a facilitator participate from the other location. Request through Canvas support is currently required to merge Canvas sites.

Example B (Hyflex): An in-person class might be connected to a synchronous online section of the same class that meets at the same time. The instructor would use strategies to ensure that students in both sections are equally engaged in the combined learning experience. Request through Canvas support is currently required to merge Canvas sites.

Blended classes may require each student to participate in two modes.

Example C (Blended): An asynchronous online lecture class might be linked to an in-person lab or discussion section.

Using clearly defined, common definitions is a critical first step toward broadening UO's instructional strategies and empowering students to make informed scheduling choices.