ABSTRACT
The current COVID-19 pandemic has changed the teaching process suddenly and dramatically. Policy formulation needs to be carried out by all educational institutions in dealing with education during the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the policies implemented by Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in the United States with the Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) in Indonesia. This comparative research used policy documents as data sources. The results of the study informed that all courses at MTSU and UMM switched to distance teaching in March 2020. Limited face-to-face lectures have been implemented at MTSU since August 2020, while at UMM since April 2021. Prior to the pandemic, both MTSU and UMM provided LMS, although both used different platforms (Brightspace at MTSU and CANVAS at UMM). Apart from LMS, lecturers at both campuses may use other platforms, such as Zoom. With the help of the health department, both MTSU and UMM provided the opportunity for COVID-19 vaccination to serve the academic community. Furthermore, at MTSU, a mask mandate is not required for individuals who are fully vaccinated, while UMM instructs every individual on campus to always wear a mask. Financial aids were also distributed by MTSU and UMM for both lecturers and students, although the amount is different. In conclusion, although there are differences in the details, the two campuses have issued policies related to the form of lectures, learning platforms, implementation of health protocols, to financial aid in order to optimize the learning process during the COVID-19 pandemic.
