Dear Colleagues:
As we prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, I would like to offer some guidance regarding course assignments during campus closure periods.
When a significant storm hits, widespread power outages are likely, making it difficult or even impossible for students and faculty alike to access the internet and complete online work. When there is a campus closure related to a storm, all classes should be considered canceled. This means that students should not be expected to participate in or complete assignments in courses in any modality on those dates, but should have the opportunity to secure their safety and stability during this time.
While it is appropriate to use Webcourses as a tool for announcements and optional engagement with students, their grades should not be impacted if they are unavailable during this period. It could be useful to let your students know that you may be unavailable during the closure and provide instructions for how they should proceed in the interim. Also, please keep in mind that students in some areas may be impacted for an extended period, depending on the storm’s severity and the subsequent recovery time.
Please do all that you can to support our students and make it possible for them to have an opportunity to be successful this semester in spite of these circumstances beyond their control.
Thank you for your flexibility during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Provost Elizabeth A. Dooley
