Feb 19, 2014 By Kimmi Baston staff Writer 3 min read

Waynesburg University’s administration and teaching staff are countering the winter weather with an emphasis on making safety and quality education its top priorities.

The start of the 2014 spring semester brought record-setting snow and cold to Waynesburg Borough, affecting on-campus walking conditions, athletic traveling schedules and travel for commuter students.

Those students, along with many professors, have faced dangerous driving conditions nearly every week so far this semester.

University Provost Jacquelyn Core said regardless of weather conditions, the university rarely cancels classes altogether. Instead, teachers use their own discretion to cancel their classes under certain conditions.

“Usually professors only cancel for personal illness or inclement weather,” said Core. “They must notify their department chair and the provost if they must cancel.”

In addition to these notifications, professors can also prepare for a cancellation by finding a replacement instructor for their class. The replacement must be qualified and provide a lecture relevant to the class material.

If no replacement is available, the class is canceled, but it must be made up in the future.

“Our accrediting body, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, ensures the value of the education we provide through requirements for instructional seat hours,” said Core.

This means that for any given class, there are a minimum number of hours that a student must be actively receiving instruction.

Besides simply making up the class hours missed with an extra class, the professor can ask students to attend a relevant lecture series or find another appropriate format for instruction to replace the missed hours.

As a result, according to Core, a class is hardly ever cancelled altogether.

“Classes here are thought of as rescheduled rather than canceled, provided substitute instruction is provided,” said Core. “The quality of our education demands that we provide a quality educational substitute for any missed class. That way the students do not suffer.”

Students therefore experience no repercussions when their teacher cancels a class; professors are not penalized in this situation either.

Core said the structure of faculty relationships is not an “us versus them” environment. Administration does not find it necessary to enforce any restrictions on professors who cancel classes.

“We rely on [professors] to use their professional judgment regarding cancellations,” said Core. “The faculty does not abuse the right to cancel, so no penalty is necessary. We all work cooperatively.”

Core said that the university “values safety above all.” As such, the protocols for canceling classes are meant as a collaborative effort from the entire faculty to ensure the safety of the students and staff, while maintaining Waynesburg’s quality education.

“The idea behind the make up is that students do not lose instructional time,” said Core. “Instead, cancelation may keep people safe which is always our first priority.”