1. Is the Spring Semester online or on-campus?
The current semester is blended. Most courses are online, but some might require on-campus attendance. Your instructor will notify you ahead of time (via E-Learning, Microsoft Teams, USEK e-mail or Mobile App) whether campus attendance is required or not once the lockdown is over and in compliance with the decision of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

Rest assured that USEK is taking all necessary safety measures to ensure you are safe on campus.

2. What are the technical requirements I need to be successfully involved in for distance learning?
Technical requirements vary from an online course to another, but you need at least a high-speed Internet connection, a computer capable of running the Learning Management System (Moodle) and specified online learning software (such as Microsoft Teams). Courses using web-conferencing software require mainly microphones, and in particular cases webcams.

3. What if I meet the requirements but have limited access to my courses?
You learn at your own pace online. Although synchronous sessions are conducted, they are recorded, and their related links are made available. As for the other types of learning activities, they are posted on Moodle and you can access them anytime.

Regarding the assessment activities, they are announced ahead of time so that you can manage your access accordingly. In case the timing is not suitable, you should inform your instructor immediately so that he/she can reschedule the assessment.

4. Are my instructors taking into consideration these issues while developing online learning and assessment activities?
Instructors know that not all their students meet the above-mentioned requirements; they also know about the internet connectivity issues as they are dealing with them too and are designing their courses accordingly.

Please trust that USEK’s administration, instructors and staff are doing their best to provide you with the needed support during the nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, as your interests are our main goal.

5. What if a learning or assessment activity requires a specific computer or software that I do not have?
Inform your instructor about your case for him/her to provide you with an alternative way to undertake the activity.

6. What if I have technological difficulties?
You may contact the IT Office by sending an email to servicedesk@usek.edu.lb.

7. How will the lab courses, studio-based courses, clinical courses, internships, senior projects, and other types of courses be delivered and graded?
Instructors, with the support of the USEK Learning and Teaching Excellence Center (LTEC), are working on developing innovative methods of delivering lab, studio, clinical and other hands-on classes. While successfully adopted in some courses, others still require face-to-face teaching.

8. Is attendance mandatory and graded in online sessions?
Attendance is not mandatory but continuous student feedback is essential, and your active participation in the activities and assessments will be graded.

9. Will the P/R grading system be applied during the Spring Semester?
No. Similar to last semester, the P/R grading system won’t be applied.

10. What should I do in case I have doubts regarding my final grade?
A Grade Review should be submitted through this link within the pre-set deadline (available on the Academic Calendar).

N.B.: a grade review is not a petition, but a request to re-examine the final of a course that should be submitted online or at the Registrar Office. If the request is approved, you will check the modified grade on your Banner account. If the request is rejected, the process fees will be automatically charged to your account.

11. Does Respondus Lockdown Browser damage my laptop or invade my privacy?
Be confident that the system is fully secure and does not affect your privacy.
However, please note that the software is not designed to be used as a regular browser on your computers and laptops. After the download is completed, you should not open it.

12. What should I do in case I face a problem with Respondus during my final exam?
If you face any problem with Respondus during your final, you are required to contact your instructor immediately to fix the issue.

N.B. A trial session will be done by your instructor prior to the final exam.

13. Is it obligatory to have the final exam on Respondus?
Each instructor is free to choose any method for his/her final exam. Respondus is optional for the instructor.