Make up days this semester unlikely

By Kelly Morse

Edited By Meredeth Mayberry, Amanda Crabtree, Sarah Schuch

CMU administrators proposed an extra day because of several missed days this semester, but the chance is slim.

The possible added day under discussion is Thursday, April 24, during the last week before finals.

“I’m pretty confident that the administration will work on a plan for future years, but I don’t know about changing the schedule this year,” said Timothy Hartshorne, professor of psychology.

Faculty members have already begun adjusting for the missed days, such as rescheduling exam dates. Plus, time is quickly passing. The administration would have to make a decision soon.

Currently, a plan is not in place to make up missed days of class. The main reason is because the university has not had to deal with this problem in the recent past.

“I’ve been here since ’89 and this hasn’t happened to my knowledge,” said Hartshorne.

Mike Zeig, president of the Student Government Association, disagrees with the proposed added day. He said that a process should be developed for next year on how to make up for cancellations, but this year is not a good idea.

Thursday, April 24 and Friday, April 25 have not always been days off for students. It has only been during the past few years that students were given these days off to study for exams and to move out of their residence hall rooms.

“If you ask me, I don’t think students need those two days off anyway. It’s not like they use that extra time to study,” said Joan Schmidt, associate director of Residence Life. “Many students enjoy that time relaxing or partying. While those may not be bad things, that is not what the days were intended for.”

This year, Order Day, which is a day reserved for on-campus students to move large items out of their residence hall rooms, is scheduled for April 24. That means, if classes were scheduled during that day as well, students would have to juggle between moving out and going to classes.

“Usually Order Day is a week before the day that it is scheduled this year, but for some reason we moved it up,” said Schmidt.

The Academic Senate, a subgroup within the SGA, will meet Tuesday, Feb. 19, to further discuss the issues surrounding the proposed added day of class.

“The perspective of students is of course important. If students are upset by decisions, it doesn’t go well,” said Hartshorne. “The decision made by SGA is a factor.”