Academic schedule plows through the snowfall
Maria Sylvester
Issue date: 2/24/10 Section: News
Mount students are beginning to wonder if they will need to make-up class time after the infamous blizzard of 2010 gifted them with three days of sledding and hot chocolate.
Colleges throughout Frederick County, such as Hood and Frederick Community College, are considering extending their semesters and implementing make-up classes due to the several snow days. Fortunately for Mount students, the University has no plan to make-up classes… yet.
Dean Sevick explained that while three snow days was "a lot of time off for the Mount, the University lost few contact hours."
Rumors that the Mount administration, in conjunction with other Maryland university administrators, signed a contract to make up missed class time are most likely rooted in requirements from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).
The Commission's website explains that it is "responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and private colleges and universities and for-profit career schools." Consequently, MHEC requires colleges and universities to complete a certain number of contact hours in order to stay accredited; however, three snow days did not endanger the Mount's ability to reach this quota.
Lost contact hours, or class time, kept students out of the classroom, but educational technology tools such as Blackboard allowed teachers to keep in touch with students and assign homework. Perhaps to the dismay of students, "instructors have other methods" that allow them to keep students academically engaged outside of the classroom.
Although the University has not made plans to alter the academic schedule for the semester, certain instructors have asked students to attend lectures or make-up classes after the snow days. A sophomore business student explained, "I have to attend a lecture on March 15 to make up for my missed [Managerial Cost] Accounting classes."
Presently, the University academic schedule is unaffected by the snow storms. However, Dean Sevick will "never say never" to the possibility of extending the academic year if the Mount is hit with more snow this winter. Although administrators have not assessed this matter entirely, Dean Sevick clarified that "graduation is set for May 16 and students should have no fear of that changing."
Colleges throughout Frederick County, such as Hood and Frederick Community College, are considering extending their semesters and implementing make-up classes due to the several snow days. Fortunately for Mount students, the University has no plan to make-up classes… yet.
Dean Sevick explained that while three snow days was "a lot of time off for the Mount, the University lost few contact hours."
Rumors that the Mount administration, in conjunction with other Maryland university administrators, signed a contract to make up missed class time are most likely rooted in requirements from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).
The Commission's website explains that it is "responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and private colleges and universities and for-profit career schools." Consequently, MHEC requires colleges and universities to complete a certain number of contact hours in order to stay accredited; however, three snow days did not endanger the Mount's ability to reach this quota.
Lost contact hours, or class time, kept students out of the classroom, but educational technology tools such as Blackboard allowed teachers to keep in touch with students and assign homework. Perhaps to the dismay of students, "instructors have other methods" that allow them to keep students academically engaged outside of the classroom.
Although the University has not made plans to alter the academic schedule for the semester, certain instructors have asked students to attend lectures or make-up classes after the snow days. A sophomore business student explained, "I have to attend a lecture on March 15 to make up for my missed [Managerial Cost] Accounting classes."
Presently, the University academic schedule is unaffected by the snow storms. However, Dean Sevick will "never say never" to the possibility of extending the academic year if the Mount is hit with more snow this winter. Although administrators have not assessed this matter entirely, Dean Sevick clarified that "graduation is set for May 16 and students should have no fear of that changing."
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