Faculty Class Cancellation Procedure

A fundamental responsibility of all faculty members is to meet every class throughout a given term. On occasion, however, there can be professional reasons to miss class (e.g., attendance at a professional conference, workshop, seminar, or symposium).

Notification to the department chair to cancel a class session is not required if the cancellation results from such a professional obligation. If a faculty member is to miss more than a week of class for professional obligations during a semester, however, that faculty member is required to consult with the chair about arranging appropriate substitute instruction. Options for an absent faculty member include arranging for a substitute instructor, providing an applied learning activity for students during the class meeting, assignments to be completed on Blackboard, or making arrangements for an out-of-class workday for the students.

In the rare case of non-professional reasons for canceling a class, such as family emergencies or illness, the faculty member should notify students via email of alternative educational activities and also notify someone in the departmental office so that a note may be placed on the classroom door. In the event of absences for other reasons, the faculty member should contact and consult with the department chair.

Canceling a class preceding and in anticipation of a university holiday (such as Thanksgiving or Spring Break) is, of course, unsanctioned and should not be done.