Dear Students and Members,

Based on the decisions of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) dated March 30, 2023, our University Senate convening on March 31, 2023, have made the following decisions regarding the processes to be conducted in the Spring Semester of the 2022-2023 Academic Year from April 3, 2023, until the end of the semester:

1. Courses in associate degree, undergraduate, and graduate programs, as well as the Department of Basic English, might be held both online (synchronous) and face-to-face. Face-to-face attendance to the classes will not be obligatory. In face-to-face courses, students will be granted the opportunity to attend the classes remotely, they will be able to follow the classes online and synchronously. All the necessary course materials will be shared with all the students via ODTÜClass.
2. The restriction stated in Article 6 of the "Procedures and Principles Regarding Distance Education in Higher Education Institutions," which is currently in effect, that "a maximum of 30 percent of the courses (according to ECTS credits) in a semester can be offered through distance education methods" will not be applied.
3. The "special student" status of the students at our university will continue with no changes.
4. The "practical applications" of the courses, which were previously postponed to April, will be turned into assignments such as homework papers and projects if possible. The courses for which such modifications cannot be made in the practical applications will be determined by the Administrative Boards of the relevant faculties or graduate schools. Either one of the following steps will be taken for these courses:
   1. Students will be given an Incomplete (I) grade at first, and they will be expected to complete their practical application assignments face-to-face between July 3 - 9, 2023. Then, the faculty members will enter their grades no later than July 12, 2023, which is the grade entry deadline for Incomplete (I) grades.
   2. Through the decision of the relevant Faculty or Graduate School Administrative Boards, a request will be made for students to receive a Long-Term Incomplete grade. Students will be expected to complete their practical application assignments face-to-face at a later date during the summer months, which will be determined by their departments and faculties. Then, the faculty members will enter their grades no later than September 13, 2023, which is the deadline for entering Spring Semester and Summer School Incomplete (I) grades whose submission period is extended by the relevant Administrative Boards.
5. Midterm exams in the Spring Semester will be held online via distance education methods (except for the programs including practical training) by giving the utmost importance to the principles of "transparency and accountability."
6. While grading students in the courses, various methods such as online exams consisting of open-ended or multiple-choice questions, homework assignments, online quizzes, and projects, as well as ODTÜClass applications, might be utilized.
7. Exams to be held for undergraduate students who cannot meet the graduation requirements at the end of their maximum duration of study and the resit exams for the associate degree and undergraduate students who are in their last semester will be conducted face-to-face on the dates specified in the Academic Calendar.
8. Final exams for the associate degree, undergraduate and graduate programs will be held face-to-face. However, possible special conditions or cases will be evaluated by the instructor of the course and online exam might be held for the students in special conditions; the use of various other methods such as homework assignments or projects might also be utilized if the course content allows to do so.
9. Administrative Boards of all the Graduate Schools will make joint decisions on how to hold thesis defenses, PhD thesis proposal defenses, PhD thesis monitoring committee meetings, and PhD qualifying exams.
10. SFL English Proficiency Exam will be held face-to-face on May 4, 2023.

Best regards,

President's Office