Advising Information for Fall 2020

Last Updated: November 18, 2020

This page contains important information about the Fall 2020 semester for NYU Shanghai degree students. NOTE: Content here is subject to change. As we get more questions and information the website will be updated with FAQs, further announcements, and updated course schedules.

Table of Contents:

  1. Fall 2020 Pass/Fail Grade Policy (Updated 11/18)
  2. Email Archives: Academic Announcement (Updated 9/2)
  3. Distance Learning Courses at Global Sites (Updated 8/29)
  4. General NYU Shanghai Academic Information
  5. Course Delivery
  6. Academic Options for First Year Students
  7. FAQs

1. Fall 2020 Pass/Fail Grade Policy (Effective November 18, 2020)

For Fall 2020 only, the following P/F and Withdrawal (W) grade policies apply to NYU Shanghai students:

  1. The deadline for petitioning for a P/F or W grade is 30 November, 2020.
  2. P grades may be requested for any course regardless of which NYU campus or site is offering it.
  3. Approved courses with P grades WILL count for core, minor, or major requirements.
  4. P grades may meet the prerequisite requirement for an additional course if the roster grade is a C or higher, or if the student passes a placement exam for that class.
  5. There is no limit on the number of courses students can petition for P/F in Fall 2020, and those credits do not count toward the 32-credit maximum students can take as P/F over their undergraduate career.
  6. Students can petition for Ws in multiple individual classes, and will not be required to complete 12 credits of graded classes (including P/F).
  7. Students currently on probation, returned from leave, or have suspension approved for P/F grading will delay their probation semester till spring 2021.
  8. NYU will not put a notice on transcripts regarding the special challenges of this semester, NYU Shanghai can write letters of explanation or advocacy. P and W grades may affect internship and graduate school applications.
  9. Students need to contact their advisor before petitioning for P/F or W grades. Following review and discussion, your advisor will submit your petition for processing.
  10. Students receiving US federal aid should consult with the office of financial aid before taking more than one W, as this may impact academic progress.

Please contact your academic advisor if you have any further questions regarding these grade policies.

2. Email Archives: Academic Announcements (Updated 9/2)

Fall 2020 Course Registration (First Year Students, Upper Class Students)

3. Distance Learning Courses at Global Sites (Updated 8/29)

If you still need to complete or change your registration, please consider this list of courses offered at the global sites that are open for online 100% remote synchronous learning. All Abu Dhabi courses are available for 100% remote synchronous learning. Some classes may suit your schedule  better because they are held in locations closer to your time zones. Check the Global Courses Satisfying Shanghai Degree Requirements sheet to see if a course counts towards your NYU Shanghai degree requirements.

4. General NYU Shanghai Academic Information

Academic Resource Center (ARC)

The ARC will offer workshops, one-on-one writing, speaking, reading, academic skills consultations, and course-specific individual and group tutoring sessions throughout the fall semester via virtual platforms and in-person. This semester, Learning Assistants and Writing and Speaking fellows will be available across time zones for students unable to return to Shanghai.

Check the ARC website for more details and email shanghai.arc@nyu.edu for inquires.

Academic Advising

The Office of Academic Advising will provide additional drop-in meetings and appointment times outside of regular work hours for students across different time zones in the fall semester. Specific times will be listed in advisor email signatures and added to advisor calendars. Contact your academic advisor if you have questions or would like to know their availability.

5. Course Delivery (Updated 9/4)

Most instruction modes will be updated in Albert. Faculty will email students enrolled in their classes with details about instruction mode, so please be on the look-out for emails from your instructor. Students enrolled in synchronous courses should attend at the time listed in China standard time.

Online class instruction will use NYU Zoom and NYU Classes. NYU Zoom will be integrated for a/synchronous course delivery, including recorded lectures, office hours, and small group work. NYU Classes will be used to:

- Communicate course announcements

- Post course materials including readings, lecture slides, and course notes

- Host asynchronous discussion forums

- Collect assignment submissions.

Distance learning exam protocol will be based on guidance laid out in course syllabi. 

The following courses require some in-person teaching, and cannot be taken via 100% distance learning. If you are enrolled in these courses and NOT planning to return to campus, you should drop them. There may be further changes to this course list.

  • ART-SHU 255 Printmaking in an Expanded Field (added 9/4)
  • ART-SHU 243 Minority & Folk Dance (Northern China) (added 9/4)
  • ART-SHU 231 Introduction to Dance Technique & Movement (added 9/4)
  • ART-SHU 230 Ballet (added 9/4)
  • SCA-SHU 9634 Global Connections: Shanghai (added 9/1)
  • PHYS-SHU 71 FoS Physics Laboratory (added 8/27)
  • CHEM-SHU 127 FoS Chemistry Lab I
  • CHEM-SHU 225L Organic Chemistry Lab I
  • BIOL-SHU 31 Genetics Lab
  • BIOL-SHU 123 FoS Biology Laboratory
  • CHIN-SHU 201A & 202A Intermediate Chinese I & II Accelerated
  • INTM-SHU 101 Interaction Lab
  • INTM-SHU 222 Introduction to Robotics (added 8/11)
  • INTM-SHU 228T Digital + Sculpture
  • INTM-SHU 271 Remade in China

6. Academic Options for First Year Students

  • Fall 2020 Enrollment Options:

​​Option A - Transition Option

Once Letters of Invitation are issued by the government, you may confirm your plans to transition your learning to Shanghai.

If you choose this option, you will start the semester with remote classes and rejoin live classes in Shanghai as soon as possible. Only register for NYU Shanghai courses and take them remotely for the time being, so that your schedule will not need to be adjusted when you return to Shanghai.

If you select this option, your classes will be on China time, and you will be expected to participate remotely in classes taking place in Shanghai. For the first two weeks after you arrive in China, you will also be taking classes remotely from quarantine.

This option has the advantage of live courses taught in Shanghai, but some may find the transition from remote study to in-person study to be difficult after the semester has begun. Additionally, students may face uncertainty about when they will be able to return to Shanghai.

Option B - Remote Semester Option

Take classes remotely for the entire semester.

If you choose this option, you will take all your classes remotely during the entire semester. Your classes will combine asynchronous and synchronous instruction, and you will receive academic support tailored to your personal circumstances. Special sections of the three mandatory NYU Shanghai classes for first-year students (Global Perspectives on Society, Chinese language, and Mathematics) will be scheduled for other time zones. If you choose an NYU Shanghai course with seats reserved for Freshmen, the class will run at its scheduled time in Shanghai. You can also register for any open class offered within the NYU global network, as long as you meet the prerequisites.

  • Academic Advising: All First Year students will be assigned an NYU Shanghai summer academic advisor to assist with fall registration. International students will receive an email notification on July 24. Chinese students will receive email notification on August 26.
  • Registration: Registration for all NYU Shanghai first-year students will take place at 9:00 pm, Monday, September 7, 2020 (China Standard Time).
  • Orientation: Orientation will be offered in both online and in-person formats. Details forthcoming.

7. FAQs

Academic Options
1. What are the options for upper-class students?

Fall 2020 Enrollment Options for students who are currently outside of China:

Option A: Take classes remotely for the entire semester. Classes will combine asynchronous and synchronous instruction, and all students will receive tailored academic support. Students may register in any open class in the NYU Global Network as long as prerequisites are met 

Option B: Affirm your interest in returning to Shanghai as soon as possible. If you pursue this option, please register primarily for courses offered in Shanghai and take them remotely for the time being so that your schedule will not need to be adjusted when you return to Shanghai.

Option C: If you are legally allowed to live and study in an NYU “Go Local” site without a student visa, please indicate your interest with the Office of Global Programs on this website. Studying at a Go Local Site will not count as a Study Away semester. If you would like to pursue this option, please submit a form before July 20. After submitting your form, the Office of Global Programs will contact you. If approved, you must commit to remaining at the Go Local location for the entire semester, and you may not return to China part-way through the semester. You may still need to take some of your courses remotely, because most Go Local locations will only be offering a limited number of in-person courses.

Option D: If none of the above options meets your needs, you may take a Leave of Absence (“LoA”). See Leave of Absence Policy and Tuition Refund Schedule. Taking an LoA would delay your graduation, so you should speak with your academic advisor before requesting it.

Option E: You plan to Study Away for Fall 2020. Make sure you have met the following requirements: 1) have citizenship, residency, or another status that permits you to study in the country of your intended study without need for a student visa, and 2) are physically located in the country in which you wish to study, or are able to travel to that country before the Fall semester begins. For Fall 2020, neither Study Away or Go Local fall 2020 will count toward your maximum number of study away semesters at NYU.

2. Can students admitted to Study Away switch to the Go Local option?

For NYU Shanghai students, Study Away and Go Local are synonymous for fall 2020. Neither Study Away or Go Local fall 2020 will count toward maximum study away semesters. If you 1) have citizenship, residency, or other status that permits you to study in the country of your requested location without the issuance of a student visa, and 2) are physically located in the country in which you wish to study, or be able to travel to that country before the Fall semester begins (for example, if you are a US citizen currently in the US admitted to study away in New York), there is no need to switch from Study Away to Go Local.

3. Are upper-class students able to apply for Go Local anywhere if they meet the visa/residency requirements?

Yes. Please find more information about Go Local eligibility and location options here.

4. If I select option B (“Return to Shanghai”), how many Shanghai courses should I register for?

International students who choose to return to Shanghai should register for a minimum of two (2) four (4) credit Shanghai courses. You may take courses across the global network, but please keep time zone and instruction mode factors in mind. Daylight savings time will end in the US on Nov. 1 and Europe on October 25. This may change class start times and result in conflicts (see time zones here). If you return to Shanghai mid-semester, please take the local schedule into consideration.

5. Can Chinese upper class students currently living in China take a combination of Shanghai and NYU global network courses remotely?

If you are currently in China, please be on campus and take Shanghai courses to fulfill your degree requirements. For this fall 2020 semester only, students can also take courses across the NYU global network. When choosing courses, please consider your degree progress, time zones, and instruction modes. Daylight savings time will end in the US on Nov. 1 and Europe on October 25. This may change class start times and result in conflicts (see time zones here). Contact your advisor to discuss in more detail.

6. If I take option B (“Return to Shanghai”), but find myself unable to return to Shanghai during the semester, what are my options?

Students who select option B but are unable to return during the semester may complete the semester through distance learning.

Course Formats and Delivery
1. How will Global Perspectives on Society (GPS) be taught in Fall 2020?

To meet the needs of all first year students, the GPS lecture will be offered fully online and asynchronously. Recitation sections 2-15 (scheduled at 8:15 am China Standard Time) and recitation sections 25-30 (scheduled mid-to-late afternoon, China Standard Time) are offered online so that international students can participate from abroad. All online sections will meet synchronously at the class times listed in Albert in Shanghai local time. Recitations 16-24 are offered in-person for students currently in Shanghai. Plan your schedule accordingly and register for the course that meets your geographic requirements. 

2. How will Perspectives on the Humanities (POH) courses be taught in Fall 2020?

Fall 2020 PoH sections will run as blended synchronous/asynchronous courses. Faculty will meet weekly with students in small groups of four to six students. If both faculty and students are in Shanghai, these tutorials will run in person at their scheduled times. If faculty or students are outside of Shanghai for part or all of the term, faculty will arrange Zoom tutorial times with students. The remaining coursework will be online and asynchronous.

A few sections are online only with asynchronous and synchronous components; for these sections, all tutorials will be held synchronously on Zoom.

Students can register for and succeed in any PoH class, regardless of their current or anticipated location. Instruction modes have been updated on Albert.

3. How will Shanghai courses be offered? Will all courses have Online, In Person, or Blended (Online + In Person) options?

Course formats will be updated in Albert. You can check “Instructional Mode” on Albert and consult the Introduction Mode Definition website information on what the codes mean. For NYU Shanghai Blended courses, students have the option to take the courses either in-person or remotely for the whole semester. For other NYU Global Network courses (including those offered in NY), see Class Notes in Albert and consult gpnyc@nyu.edu for any questions.

Leave of Absence & Refunds
1. What is the refund, LOA, and full withdrawal policy for Fall 2020?

Students follow the refund schedule of their study agreement for the semester. For example, a student who remains enrolled as a Shanghai student in all or some Shanghai courses for the fall will follow the Shanghai refund, LOA and full withdrawal deadlines. A student who opts to "Go Local" or study away in NY fall 2020 will follow the NY refund, LOA and full withdrawal deadlines.

2. I am enrolled in courses across the global network. Which academic calendar should I follow for semester start dates, add/drop and Pass/ Fail or individual course withdrawal dates?

For refunds, LOA, and full withdrawal calendar policies, see the previous FAQ. Individual courses will follow the academic calendars of the host institution. For example, students enrolled in a course offered by NYU New York will follow the NYUNY Washington Square academic calendar for semester start, add/drop, P/F/W dates. Likewise, students in a course offered by NYU Shanghai will follow the NYUSH academic calendar for semester start, add/drop, P/F/W dates.

3. I plan to take a personal LOA fall 2020. May I study away spring 2021?

Given the extraordinary conditions of the spring and fall 2020 semesters, the policy restricting students from studying away following a personal leave of absence will be waived for spring 2021. Please note that academic affairs cannot influence study away admissions decisions. Students interested in deferring study away admissions or applying for spring 2021 should proceed with applications and contact global.admissions@nyu.edu with questions about study away admissions.

Navigating Albert & Time Conflicts
1. What do the instruction modes in Albert mean?

Generally speaking, courses in the Course Search will be listed with one of the following four instruction modes:

  • In-Person: The course meets 100% in-person for the entire duration of the course.
  • Blended: For NYU Shanghai Blended courses, students have the option to take the courses either in-person or remotely for the entire semester. For other NYU Global Network courses (including those offered in New York), please see Class Notes in Albert and consult gynyc@nyu.edu if you have any questions.
  • Online: There are no physical meetings. The course takes place 100% remotely.
2. What time zone are courses in Albert listed in?

Course times in Albert are determined by the course location. For example, if a course is taught from London, a course time of 9 AM in Albert is referring to 9 AM local time. Please be aware of time zone changes and daylight savings. Refer to the chart to assist you in managing your course times. You can also use this time zone calculator to calculate times for current and future dates. Please avoid registering for courses that conflict later in the semester, even if they may not conflict iat the beginning of the semester.

3. How can I register for classes that are showing "time conflicts" between two different locations that do not actually conflict?

Time zone differences are not recognized in Albert. You can't enroll in two courses that start at the same time or have overlap in meeting times in their respective time zones. You can contact your advisor for assistance in enrollment in classes showing time conflicts in Albert. Be aware that courses that do not appear to have a time conflict now, may have a time conflict once daylight savings time ends. Please refer to the chart for assistance. You can also use this time zone calculator to calculate times for current and future dates. It is your responsibility to make sure that you do not register for classes that conflict.

4. Can I register for courses that actually conflict?

As you are registering for courses, be aware that course times are listed based upon the course location. For example, if you register for a 9 AM course in New York, it runs at the same time as a 3 PM course in Berlin. Albert will not prevent you from registering for both courses; however, you are expected to attend courses at the designated meeting time in Albert synchronously (at the time the course is being taught). Therefore, you should avoid registering for courses with an actual time conflict. Be aware that courses that do not appear to have a time conflict now, may have a time conflict once daylight savings time ends. Please refer to the chart for assistance. You can also use this time zone calculator to calculate times for current and future dates.

5. How do I find the academic calendar for my Go Local site and other locations?

Updated calendars for sites can be found via this webpage under the "View Upperclassmen Academic Calendars" expandable.

Academic Planning & Registration
1. How can I register for classes outside of Shanghai? What if Albert does not recognize my Shanghai course as the prerequisite?

Please carefully review the following resources about registering for classes outside of Shanghai.

Please note: courses are currently being updated in Albert and changes to class schedules/instruction modes are expected through August. We encourage you to keep checking Albert and your class schedule for updates. If schedule changes influence your fall enrollment decision, please consult your academic advisor. You can also take distance-learning courses offered by NYU Shanghai faculty to meet a requirement.

2. Can I take School for Professional Studies (SPS) courses in New York (e.g.: XXX1-UC)?

Credits from any courses taken in NYU’s School of Professional Studies will not be counted toward major requirements, the GPA, or the minimum 128 credits required for graduation. If you have questions about this, please consult your advisor.

3. Can I take an EAST-UA Chinese Language course in New York?

You should take the Shanghai-based Chinese language courses offered in distance learning format. The language of instruction in these courses is in Chinese and the course content is distinctive. If you take a different course, you may find it difficult to continue on the NYU Shanghai language study track. Upon your return to NYU Shanghai, your placement in Chinese language courses will be up to your instructor and the Level Coordinator.

4. Will MATH-UA 121 Calculus 1 count for the Calculus requirement for different majors?

In general, students should take courses for that satisfy graduation requirements and for which they have met prerequisites. Computer Science, Data Science, Economics, Math, and Science majors should take the NYU Shanghai version online. Business, Social Science, IMA, Humanities, and Global China Studies majors can take MATH-UA 121 Calculus 1 to fulfill the core curriculum requirement.

5. If I want to take a course in New York that has Calculus or Intro to Computer Science as the prerequisite, can I take the placement exam in Shanghai or New York to fulfill the prerequisite?

Students in New York have the option to take the exam offered in New York (math, computer science) or remotely in Shanghai. You may need to take New York exams if the courses before the exams are offered in Shanghai. Any student who intends to register for Data Structures in New York will need to pass the New York pass out of ICS exam (even if they have completed ICS in Shanghai). If possible, students should take the distance learning course offered by Shanghai instead of courses in New York requiring prerequisites that haven't been met.