A Note on Missed Classes
This just in from the Provost:
| Boston University Office of the Provost | ||
| TO: | Boston University Faculty, Students and Staff | |
| FROM: | Jean Morrison, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer | |
| DATE: | February 10, 2015 | |
| SUBJECT: | Making Up Missed Class Days on the Charles River Campus | |
The now record-setting 2015 winter weather continues to have a profound effect on New England in general and on Boston in particular. Thus far this semester, classes on the Charles River Campus have been cancelled a total of five times, resulting in the loss of two Monday class days, two Tuesday class days and one Wednesday class day. Faculty and students alike are feeling the loss of these regularly scheduled classes.
We understand that many faculty have already made adjustments for missed class time, and we appreciate the creativity and flexibility that has gone into those efforts. However, given the total number of class days that we have missed at this point, we want to offer a way for faculty and students in all Charles River Campus schools and colleges to make up two full class days as necessary.
As a result, we will open Charles River Campus classrooms and class laboratories on Saturday, February 28, 2015 for faculty and students to hold regularly scheduled Monday daytime classes and labs. We will also open classrooms and class laboratories on Saturday, March 21, 2015 for faculty and students to hold regularly scheduled Tuesday daytime classes and labs.
In addition, faculty may add time to evening classes over the course of the semester so long as doing so does not conflict with other scheduled classes using the same facilities. Please note that we will not hold evening classes or labs on the Saturday makeup days (February 28 and March 21).
While faculty may require attendance on these Saturdays, we ask that faculty communicate with their students and with any relevant graduate teaching fellows well in advance about their expectations for attendance on these days. Further, we ask that faculty work closely with students who have conflicts such as work commitments or religious observances that would prevent their attendance to ensure that they are not disadvantaged by an excused absence.
In order to ensure that classrooms and labs are prepared and that technology support is available, we ask that faculty members notify departmental or school/college scheduling coordinators of their intent to hold Saturday makeup classes by Monday, February 23 for classes held on February 28; and by Monday, March 16 for classes held on March 21. Scheduling coordinators will in turn work with the Office of the University Registrar to arrange for classrooms. We will make every effort to hold classes in regular classrooms; however, in some instances we may need to change rooms due to other academic commitments.
We recommend that faculty not schedule examinations or quizzes on the Saturday make-up days.
Additional information on this plan will appear in BU Today. We hope that these opportunities for faculty and students to meet enables full consideration of all the material that was initially included in the syllabus. By adding these class days, we want to ensure that the critically important work of the semester can proceed so that the learning goals established for each class can be met.
cc: President Robert A. Brown
Academic Deans
Provost’s Cabinet
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The snow this winter has been quite difficult on both the University and the city, and much care and consideration goes into every occurrence of needing to shut down operations and classes for the day. It is not a decision we reach lightly or without due consideration.
The Office of the Provost will soon be releasing information on plans to make up missed class time. Students will receive that information via email, and it will be simultaneously posted to BU Today for the general public. We will let parents know of the options via our Parents Program Facebook page.Your academic success and enrichment is crucial to the University, and we are going to find ways to make up the missed time. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
11 comments
Glad to hear this. Hoping it doesn’t change Spring break dates since many have already booked tickets home and there is a big cost to change. Maybe Saturday classes?
Though my child’s education is very important to me – her safety is my priority. I trust that BU agrees with this theory and I applaud their decisions and efforts during these difficult weather emergencies.
Thank you for being so attentive.
Jacqueline Wisner, MD
Mom of Katie Bhattacharya Class of 2017
Ms. Weinstein –
We do not anticipate any options impacting spring break. We recognize how many students already have plans.
Thanks,
Kat
Thank you for the updates and keeping our children safe. Stay warm!
“Further, we ask that faculty work closely with students who have conflicts such as work commitments or religious observances that would prevent their attendance to ensure that they are not disadvantaged by an excused absence.”
Thank you for stating this. It is very frustrating when someone says “you can just have an excused absence” because they don’t understand that I don’t want to be at a disadvantage!
What constitutes “evening classes”?
So glad that BU cares about the Jewish population… it’s not like we don’t have our day of rest were some of us can’t pick up a writing implement or even turn on the lights.
As you can see in the memo, your concern is addressed: ““Further, we ask that faculty work closely with students who have conflicts such as work commitments or religious observances that would prevent their attendance to ensure that they are not disadvantaged by an excused absence.”
If religious observance keeps you from the make-up class, please communicate this with your professor.
As a parent who lives across the country I am so grateful that BU is taking the necessary measures and precautions to keep our students safe! Thank you so much! So proud to be a Terrier parent!!!