Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Message Archive

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

 

This email is being sent to all members of the Baruch College faculty.

 

For an archive of announcements sent from the Provost’s Office beginning June 2011, see http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/provost/archive.htm

 

 

From: John Brenkman, Interim Provost

 

            The cancelation of an entire week of classes because of Hurricane Sandy at this late date in the semester puts considerable stress on faculty and students alike to find a way to complete the semester successfully. State law requires that all missed classes be made up. The storm’s disruption has also come just before students’ withdrawal (“W”) deadline and just before the beginning of registration for the Spring semester.

 

            — The last date to withdraw (“W”) from a class has been extended to Friday, November 16. (Make every effort to encourage your students to communicate with you if they are considering withdrawal. Helping students finish as many courses as they can is crucial to their progress to the degree. By the same token, many students are unaware of the “W” option and the deadline. If withdrawal seems like an appropriate option, advise the student that it is necessary to visit the Center for Academic Advisement on the fifth floor of the Vertical Campus and speak with an adviser. The Center will be open until 7:00 pm this week, and on Saturday, November 10, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.)

 

            — The beginning of registration for the Spring semester has been postponed until Wednesday, November 14. (The BookList deadline has been extended to November 13.)

 

            — In order to make up the week of missed classes without altering our scheduled exam week (Friday 12/14 – Friday 12/21), MW classes will hold make-up sessions on Sunday 11/18 and Sunday 12/9; TTh classes will hold make-up sessions on Sunday 12/2 and Thursday 12/13 (currently Reading Day). To account for classes meeting one day a week or on MF, TF, WF schedules, the make-up structure for each day of scheduled class is as follows:

 

            M classes: Sunday 11/18

            T classes: Sunday 12/2

            W classes: Sunday 12/9

            Th classes: Thursday 12/13

            F classes: Sunday 11/11

Saturday and Sunday classes will add an appropriate number of minutes to each of the next four meetings.

 

NB: Instructors have the option to replace one or both of the additional sessions with online instruction. This affords an opportunity to experiment with hybrid teaching. Working with the Schwartz Institute, we will soon announce a schedule of workshops and tutorials for those wanting to use the online option.

 

Our aim should be to make a good faith effort to replace the missed hours of instruction while being flexible and responsive to the difficulties faced by students. In particular, it is important to be attentive to the predicament of students who continue to deal with the aftermath of Sandy and to avoid giving exams on the make-up days. While Blackboard is the most efficient way to keep contact with your students, those who are without power or homeless may need to contact you by phone.