After the university’s closure for several days due to snow storms, professors must decide how to cover missed material.
The academic calendar does not allot room for the university to add days to the schedule. Therefore, professors have been encouraged by Risa Palm, Vice President for Academic Affairs, to communicate with their chair, dean and students in order to devise a plan to make up for lost class time.
Some professors prepare for events like this in their syllabus and are not affected by the cancellations.
“We’re right on schedule. That’s why I double up my lectures because stuff happens and we have got to prepare for that. And luckily we’re right on schedule,” geology professor, Kera Judy, said. “If you’re a good teacher you can figure out a way to do it and you don’t have to do it by dumping a load of work on your students. You can figure out a way.”
Although schedules are thrown off, students are glad that there will not be any additional days added to the semester.
“I don’t think we should scramble and go crazy to make up for it. This is just what happens, weather happens, but it’s not the end of the world and it is not worth wrecking your schedule over,” Callie Cargo, art major, said.
Students and professors acknowledge that the weather cancellations will require more work but they also believe that the students are capable of learning all of the material.
“I think that it’s definitely put us out of the way and there will be a period where we will have to work a little harder to catch up but I don’t think that is asking too much of students,” Caitlin Joyce, a sophomore, said. “I think we are all grateful to keep our spring break and stay on schedule. And I think it is just a matter of weeks before we are all caught up again.”
