Dr. J's message for Jan. 1-8, 2012
Happy New Year and welcome to Winter Quarter 2012! I hope you enjoyed the holidays and are ready for the final winter quarter at Ohio State. After we transition to the new academic calendar this summer, we're just going to have autumn and spring semesters-no more winter. If it were only that easy! No matter what it's called on the university calendar, January is not spring in Ohio and we can expect some very wintery weather in the coming weeks.
In most cases of snow or cold temperatures, you can expect the university to operate normally. Ohio State rarely cancels classes for bad weather. Sometimes several years go by without a weather-related class cancellation. So don't count on a "snow day" to occur. The university will cancel classes if conditions are so severe that your health and safety are endangered, but the standards are different than for k-12 schools. We are concerned that driving is possible for commuter students, faculty and staff, that sidewalks are sufficiently cleared for safe walking, and that temperatures are safe for a healthy person who is properly dressed to be outside for up to 30 minutes. Individual professors can set their own policies for excused absences for bad weather, so if you anticipate that this might be an issue for you, it's a good idea to talk to your professors early in the quarter to find out how they will handle this.
Each campus-Columbus, Newark, Marion, Mansfield, Lima, Wooster-makes its own determination, based on local conditions. To check for Columbus cancellations, go to the Ohio State homepage www.osu.edu. For regional campus information, check the campus homepage. You can also call 614-247-7777 or listen to WOSU radio, 89.7 FM. Local television and radio stations will also have information.
Sometimes, events and activities are cancelled for weather reasons even when classes are in session, so it's wise to check before heading out if you're not sure. Residence and dining halls, as well as most other student services, will remain open even if classes are cancelled.
I always urge students to go to class, but safety is even more important. If your individual circumstances-bad roads, health condition-mean that it would be too risky for you to come to class on a particular day, then you need to make the safe choice. Just know that it is up to you to know and follow the make-up policies for the classes you missed.
Here's hoping we won't have to use any of this information in our final Winter at Ohio State!
Dr. J
Javaune Adams-Gaston, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Life
vicepresident@studentlife.osu.edu
Contact:
Kellie Uhrig
614-292-5944
uhrig.3@osu.edu