Academic Continuity

Given the continuous uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, College of Charleston students and employees are asked to reference the following websites regarding our plans and resources to maintain academic continuity:

Back on the Bricks (2022-2023 COVID-19 Plans)

Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Back on the Bricks, College of Charleston's Plan for 2022-2023 will be updated regularly as the College adjusts to evolving conditions and to updated guidance from local, state and federal authorities, which may include Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) and others.

Campus Continuity

In addition to the Back on the Bricks site, the College's year-round campus continuity site provides resources about continuing to teach, learn, and work in the event of a pandemic, hurricane, or other campus disruption. Use the link above to access the campus continuity site. 

Hurricane Plan (Effective 8/12/22)

In the event of an interruption of campus operations/closure, the College of Charleston is prepared to shift from in-person classes to online instruction to maintain academic progress. If the College temporarily closes, this does not necessarily mean that classes are discontinuing. In most disciplines, instruction will proceed in an online environment.

  • The College of Charleston will follow the instructions of Charleston County regarding closure. See the Charleston County Hurricane Guide for updates. Students in field-based experiences (e.g., student teaching, local internships, etc.) should follow closure guidelines issued by the respective field site.
  • If the College does close, operations will likely continue online. Students should be prepared for direct communication from their instructor for each of their classes via CofC’s email system and via OAKS. Most faculty members will engage students through OAKS, our university’s Learning Management System. Students are expected to log in to OAKS daily during an interruption of campus operations. 
  • We recognize that during an evacuation, access to digital resources may be limited. Faculty will adjust assignments and due dates to accommodate students’ needs in response to evolving conditions. 
  • Scheduled storm make-up dates for on-campus instruction are built into the Academic Calendar: On these dates, in-person instruction is reserved particularly for PE Activity Courses, labs, studio and performance courses, yet instructors for any courses may determine that either in-person or virtual is preferable for the course in question; all other courses should use virtual instruction. Faculty should also be mindful of possible student work schedules during make-up dates, which are the following for Fall 2022:
    • Saturday, September 24 and Sunday, September 25 and 
    • Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, November 13

Faculty & Staff:

  • Please revisit your School/Departmental emergency management plans to ensure the security and protection of research equipment/lab spaces and the continued care of research animals.
  • When it is safe to reopen campus and instructional activities resume, please be patient with students as they return to campus, and please be flexible with classroom attendance and assignment completion during the resumption of classes.

Other links/resources:

Emergency Preparedness and Management Plan: https://ehs.cofc.edu/emergency-preparedness/index.php

CofC Emergency Management website: https://emergency.cofc.edu/

College Library: https://libguides.library.cofc.edu/continuity 

Student Support Services for 2022-2023

Please review the student support services that are available in the event of a campus disruption that leads to remote learning, including the CofC Student Emergency Fund, academic support offices, and a student's guide to hurricane preparedness. 

Faculty Resources for 2022-2023

In addition to the resources above, faculty may review the special resources for the 2022-2023 academic year, including the policy on absences and FAQs about teaching during the pandemic.