The deans of the undergraduate colleges (Fordham College at Rose Hill, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, and Gabelli School of Business), working with the Office of the Provost, have developed a plan to make up for the class days that were cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy. (Graduate and professional school deans, including Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies, have developed their own plans, in accordance with accreditation standards for their areas, and will communicate these with their faculty and students.)
The undergraduate plan will carve out three extra days of class time: December 11, 12, and 13. The 11th and 12th are currently reading days. The 13th is currently the first day of exams. The exams that were scheduled for the 13th will be moved to other days within the current exam period. Thus, on three days (December 14, 17, 20) there will be three exams scheduled. Students who end up having three exams on one day will be able to reschedule one to a separate day. The exams that were to be held on the last day of reading period (Dec. 12) will be moved to Saturday, Dec. 15, with Accounting in the morning and Modern Language in the afternoon. Again, arrangements can be made for any student unable to take a Saturday exam.
Further details on these changes, along with a revised exam schedule, will be sent to all affected faculty and students.
Making these adjustments will allow each course to have an additional class session. Faculty may then schedule a second make-up day for their classes in a way that best suits their own and their students’ schedules. Faculty can do this in a variety of formats or provide equivalent instruction (e.g. online, taped lecture, etc.).
We very much appreciate the flexibility of our faculty and students as they work together to complete the semester. Losing the reading days is unfortunate, but the Office of the Provost and the deans determined this to be the best possible solution, minimizing disruption and hardship for the greatest number of students while ensuring that lost class time could be reinstated without extending the exam period or shortening holiday breaks. Faculty will also be encouraged to use these class sessions to help students review course material and prepare for final exams.
Stephen Freedman, Ph.D.
Provost of the University
