COVID-19 Updates and Guidance > FAQs > Classes and Academics for Students

Classes and Academics for Students

1. Winter, spring and summer learning

Similar to the winter quarter, a majority of spring quarter courses will be offered online. DePaul is planning to increase its face-to-face presence beginning in the summer and we intend to offer a full complement of in-person courses in fall 2021.

We are making these difficult choices to maintain a healthy campus and to help slow the spread of COVID-19. For more information, visit Newsline​. 

External factors that are beyond DePaul's control have changed the environment in which we hoped to return. Given our Vincentian values to take care of one another and our community, we do not believe that there is a reasonable way to currently open the campus fully and continue to effectively manage the potential health risks to the university and local community.

As we have done since the start of the pandemic, DePaul will engage our medical partners at AMITA Health and stakeholders across the university as we develop processes and guidance for safe campus operations in the fall.

To learn more about DePaul's spring and summer quarter plans, please read​ Newsline​. 

No. DePaul's temporary Pass/D/Fail policy was established in spring 2020 to address the State of Illinois' mandate​ for institutions to accept transfer credit with grades of Pass.​ Illinois did not renew this temporary policy and it expired on Dec. 31, 2020.  

As a result, DePaul's temporary Pass/D/Fail policy has not been extended for the 2021 winter quarter. DePaul will now follow the standard Pass/Fail policy. For more information, please visit the Student H​andbook.​

Grading basis 
 Description 
 Explanation 
 Self-elected option 
 ​Last date to elect for winter quarter
ANC 
 ABC/NC Grading
 Default grading basis for undergraduate courses. Administered when course is created. Students may change to the Pass/Fail grading basis if approved but need to consult with their advisor to see if a PA grade will meet requirements. 
 Yes
1/19/21
GRD
 ABC/NC Grading
 Default grading basis for graduate courses. Administered when course is created. Students may change to Pass/Fail grading basis if approved but need to consult their advisor to see if the a PA grade will meet requirements.
 Yes
1/19/21
RGD
 Research Graduate
 Default grading basis for graduate research courses. Administered when course is created. Students may change to Pass/Fail grading basis if approved but need to consult their advisor to see if the a PA grade will meet requirements. 
 Yes
1/19/21​
PNP 
 ​Pass/Not Pass
 Traditional Pass/Fail option. Administered when course is created or when student notifies the college's office that they want this as an option on an eligible course.
 Yes
 Depends on the college

We have spent the past summer working hard to provide the best experience and further strengthening our online capabilities. DePaul has delivered quality online learning for more than a decade, and now we’re even better. More than 200 faculty members completed DePaul’s award-winning training to prepare for teaching courses online, bringing the total to more than 1,000. Technology was upgraded in more than 100 classrooms to better facilitate online learning.​

​A coordinated, phased return to campus is planned to begin this summer. DePaul intends to offer a full complement of in-person courses in fall 2021. As we have done since the start of the pandemic, DePaul is working with its medical partners at AMITA Health and stakeholders across the university to develop processes and guidance that promote a safe campus.

For more information, visit Newsline​. 

For financial assistance with technology purchases, please contact Financial Aid at dpcl@depaul.edu or 312-362-8610.​

Start by ​going to Desire2Learn, or D2L, our course management system, to see information about your classes. You can log into D2L with your Campus Connect credentials. Once logged in, you will see your classes appearing as tiles in the “My Courses” part of the home page. Click on any of the tiles to access that course information.

For those of you taking classes that include synchronous meetings online, the link you need to access most classes will be posted on the D2L course site; if not, your instructor will send you the link. Each D2L course site includes a tab labeled “Content” where course materials are found; click there to find information about the first few weeks. Please note that D2L sites for specific courses may not be available until just before the start of classes. In addition, your instructor may email you with specific instructions about your course.

Learn more about accessing online courses in this Aug. 28 Newsline article.

Many DePaul resources are available to support your learning experience. DePaul’s Student Success website is a valuable starting point. We highly encourage you to review this site’s crowd-sourced tips for succeeding as a remote student, as well as information on access to technology tools and services. You also should review instructions on Zoom​, the online video and audio communications service we expect you will be using frequently in your Spring and Summer courses. ​

Faculty will list required course materials in the course syllabus or on the course's D2L page. You can also search for course material on the DePaul bookstore website​​.

Search for materials on the Lincoln Park Campus bookstore website if you are taking courses based in one of these colleges:

  • College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
  • College of Science and Health
  • The Theatre School
  • College of Education
  • School of Music

Search for materials on the Loop Campus bookstore website if you are taking courses based in these colleges:

  • College of Law
  • College of Computing and Digital Media
  • College of Communication
  • Driehaus College of Business
  • School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Try searching both bookstore sites if your course materials aren't listed where you expect them to appear.

Anyone wi​th a scholarship or financial aid should talk to Financial Aid about the ramifications of withdrawing from all classes or not enrolling.

2. Academic support and resources

​Yes. For more information on DePaul's academic advising services this winter, including advising offices by college, please visit the Student Success website. ​​

​Yes! Many of the same academic support services DePaul has always offered will be available virtually. For the full list of services, please visit the Student Success website. This includes:
Please visit the Student Services and Engagement FAQs for the most up-to-date information.​

​Yes, please contact your professors at least five business days before your exams to inform them of your accommodations and that you would like to use them for the upcoming exam.

​Yes, please contact the CSD at csd@depaul.edu, or call 312-362-8002 or 773-325-1677.

​Please contact CSD at csd@depaul.edu, or call 312-362-8002 or 773-325-1677. A CSD staff member will reply to your concern as soon as possible.​

Our current interpretation of the regulations indicate that courses that were forced to change their modality from in-person or TBD to online because of COVID-19 will receive full benefits as though they are residential or in-person.  

Furthermore, classes that were always planned to be hosted online will continue to receive reduced benefits. If you need help determining if a course’s modality was changed as a result of the pandemic or was always planned to be hosted online, please email veteransaffairs@depaul.edu.

3. On-campus resources

​University libraries: 
For the most up-to-date information on the DePaul University Library and its services, please visit the COVID-19 DePaul Library Services Guide.  

Contactless Pick-up Service for local materials and I-Share has resumed at both the John T. Richardson Library and the Loop Library during our posted service hours. In addition, the following on-site services will continue: ​ ​​
  • Expanded course reserves services, including new acquisitions, digitization of audio and video materials, and scanning of book chapters and articles
  • Book drops are open for returns as well as our Click and Ship service
  • Document delivery including book chapter and article scanning for purposes beyond course reserves
  • Special Collections and Archives digital reference services utilizing physical collections, and instruction preparation (item selection and digitization)   
  • Interlibrary loan service for physical materials (for faculty)
The University Library is not currently accepting reservations for computer use on the second floor of the John T. Richardson Library, but hopes to resume this service and expand contactless pickup hours later in the quarter or as soon as conditions allow. 

For information on access, services and available resources for the Rinn Law Library, please visit the Rinn Law Library website. 

If you have any questions, please Ask a Librarian for help

Barnes & Noble: 
Bookstores on the Loop and Lincoln Park campuses are open with modified hours and offerings. Please check their website​ for the most up-to-date information because hours are subject to change.​​

Please give serious consideration to the necessity of visiting campus while the city’s stay-at-home advisory is in effect. Do not visit campus if you have been recently exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms.​

If on-campus resources are essential to your work, DePaul’s buildings will be available to faculty, staff and others with authorized access from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • ​Lincoln Park: All buildings will operate in controlled access mode, requiring an ID card swipe for entry.
  • Loop: All DePaul buildings will require you to show a DePaul ID and sig​​n in.
  • Music students may still access the Holtschneider Performance Center’s practice rooms using the School of Music’s scheduling system.
  • Law students may continue to access buildings in the Loop by showing a DePaul ID and signing in.

This restricted access will begin Monday and last through Dec. 22. As usual, buildings will be fully closed during the holiday break from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3. Remember to use the #CampusClear app each time you prepare to come to campus.

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​For the most up-to-date list of open computer labs on-campus, please visit ​​Information Services website​.

Submit a question

If you can’t find an answer that you’re looking for, submit a question to our COVID-19 response team.

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