Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Joanne Brzinski sent an email to directors of undergraduate study on Tuesday, requesting feedback on three possible options to make up classes after several University snow days.
Emory University will be shut down Tuesday and Wednesday due to a snowstorm.
In Brzinski's email – sent out today at around 11:30 a.m. and obtained by the Wheel – she cited "a need to discuss the possibility of scheduling make-up days for Tuesday, Wednesday and maybe Thursday class meetings."
"There seem to be three possible options, all with problems attached to them," she wrote, later adding, "We are just in the thinking stages about this; no decision has been made about whether to reschedule classes."
The three options were stated in the order that Brzinski wrote she thinks "makes the most sense." Brzinski did not respond to email and phone inquiries seeking comment by press time Tuesday evening.
Her first suggestion involves holding classes on some Saturdays and Sundays. Brzinski wrote that under this option the University could "concentrate those days within a short period of time" or spread make-up days throughout the semester. The obstacles, she added, would involve students with religious conflicts, jobs and other obligations.
Brzinski wrote that the second option would be to cancel some or all of spring break.
"Both faculty, students, and Emory programs have plans for spring break, creating some difficulties with this plan," she wrote.
A third option, Brzinski wrote, would be to hold classes on reading day, which is scheduled before final exams begin to give students a chance to study. Brzinski wrote, however, that this option only solves one make-up day and would interfere with final exam preparation and class review sessions.
Brzinski ended the email by asking the directors to let her know if there are conflicts that she did not consider.
"I would also like to know if this action would be helpful," she wrote in the email. "I am hearing from faculty who are struggling to catch up, and that is the main reason to take this step."
She wrote that she also wants to hear from those who think this step is unnecessary.
"I hope that you will share your feedback as we think about the implications," Brzinski wrote.
Brzinski added that faculty members would not be required to hold classes on these make-up days. Other services, such as department offices and the library, would not be required to open during different hours on make-up days, she added.
– By Karishma Mehrotra
Follow Karishma Mehrotra on Twitter @missmishma
