By Danielle Modica and Henry Fisher | February 14, 2022
United University Professions (UUP) Albany Chapter released a statement last week regarding University at Albany’s severe weather protocol, sharing frustrations on the “inconsistency” of university procedures.
UAlbany’s current snow protocol states that in the event of severe weather, university leadership will decide to pivot and deliver all courses remotely.
The statement, by the Albany Chapter President and UAlbany Sociology Professor Aaron Major, expressed annoyance on behalf of professors, referencing how university administration has “repeatedly insisted” that the majority of instruction be done in-person and “deny many requests from instructors to teach remotely” on an average basis.
The statement reads: “to now insist that all classes can, on short notice, be converted to remote instruction is striking in its inconsistency.”
“[University administration] seems to assume that remote and on-line instruction can simply be flipped on like a switch,” Major said.
Jordan Carleo-Evangelist, the Director of Communications, noted that the university has developed resources for faculty to assist in determining which remote options, from synchronous Zoom calls to asynchronous assignments, work best for their courses.
“The COVID-19-related delay in the start of the semester eliminated any extra space in the academic calendar, leaving virtually no way to cancel most classes without potentially impacting spring break or commencement,” Carleo-Evangelist said.
Students and faculty are encouraged to sign up for weather notifications through the UAlbany Emergency Alerts website, or to contact the emergency phone line at (518) 442-7669.