According to an email sent to Auburn professors and obtained by The War Eagle Reader (sounds so tough — Woodstein!), the academic calendar for spring semester remains officially unaffected by the wants and wishes of Auburn students heading to Glendale for the BCS National Championship game on January 10th, the first day of classes.
The good news is that, unofficially, yeah, things’ll probably be just fine.
Dear Faculty,
Classes for the Spring 2011 semester will begin as scheduled on Monday, January 10, 2011.
That same day, the Auburn University football team will play in the BCS National Championship Game in Glendale, Arizona. Many faculty and students have expressed an interest in attending the game.
If instructors choose to implement an alternative method of meeting class on Monday, January 10th or Tuesday, January 11th, please notify your students as soon as possible, but no later than Sunday, January 9, 2011. Alternative options are best decided upon by the faculty. In general, options may include (but are not limited to) having a colleague meet the class, having the students complete the work outside of class, or providing lectures via written, audio, or audiovisual means.
Students must notify their instructors in writing (e-mail is recommended) if they are missing classes on January 10 or January 11 to
attend the BCS Championship Game. Students must notify their instructors as soon as possible, but no later than Sunday, January 9,
2011.Please direct questions to Dr. Emmett Winn, Associate Provost or Dr. Claire Crutchley, University Senate Chair.
Thanks to the intrepid @SolidJackson.
Being a professor whose college has semester-opening faculty meetings that week, I requested permission from my dean TWO MONTHS AGO for this. Hahaha.
This sucks, but if won’t stop me from going. No sir.
What this does NOT say is whether regular students (not band, not athlete, etc) should be granted Jan 10-11 as an excused absence.
I am actually proud of this stance. It puts academics in front of athletics, and still gives the professors and students a chance to work around the fact that many of them are (hopefully) going to the game!
So they have to notify students by the 9th? Gee that’s pelnty of time to make travel plans.
Profs don’t do any real work, and most students could care less. Not to mention, nothing important happens the 1st week anyway. Both problems are solved. Type this memo and send it out.
WDE
Woodstein!
My goodness, yes this is an academic institution, but our team playing for the National Championship title is a great honor and it is unfortunate AU administration does not cancel classes for 2 days in order to attend the game. I guarantee that the AU football program has generated more revenue this year than any other organization affiliated with the college.
apparently the same thing happened with bama last year and they moved the first day of class back
I think if I’m willing to pay a hefty chunk of change to go support my university then these absences better be excused.
the thing is that bama cancelled their classes last year for around a week.
They received a good amount of grief for this b/c it was “just a football game….”
Looks like auburn is trying to avoid a repeat. I myself have no problem missing the entire first week. An email regarding the horrible flight options should cover bases until at least weds-thurs, and after that, well they’ll just have to survive without me
The cool profs won’t care. The academians will. It’s pretty much a crap shoot. If you have a jackass that gives you grief over it you should probably drop/add anyway.