SUNY Oswego has instituted a new inclement weather policy that allows the school to cancel classes or declare a “remote instruction day,” according to the 2021-2022 Student Handbook.

“Classes at SUNY Oswego’s main campus in Oswego and Syracuse campus may be canceled due to winter weather or prompt the college to declare a “remote” instruction day,” the policy reads. “When classes are canceled at the college or a remote instruction day is declared, faculty and commuting students are advised not to come to campus. In the case of a remote instruction day, all face-to-face and hybrid classes will be taught online as per your professor’s instructions. Online courses will continue as normal.”

Scott R. Furlong, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at SUNY Oswego, said that “if a remote day is declared” it is up to the discretion of individual professors to “decide whether and how to hold class for that day.”

The change in policy was “a business operations item discussed by members of the President’s Council in December 2020,” Wayne Westervelt, Chief Communication Officer at SUNY Oswego, said in an email. “Given SUNY Oswego’s growing strength in online learning and our ability to successfully deliver instruction remotely (during the height of the pandemic), SUNY Oswego determined that it would broaden its inclement weather practices, beginning in spring 2021, to include the option of declaring a remote instruction day.”

“The act to cancel classes or declare a remote instruction day is a college operations decision that is made by the President (currently the Officer in Charge) in partnership with senior leadership and in consultation with weather experts,” Dr. Mary C. Toale, Officer in Charge at SUNY Oswego, said. “The SUNY Oswego administration reviews all weather forecasts, warnings and advisories and considers all options (canceling classes or declaring a remote instruction day) … with the safety and well-being of all members of our campus community as our utmost priority.”

Dr. Rebecca Burch, a human development professor at SUNY Oswego, sees a few potential problems with this policy. Increased internet and power outages from the weather and home internet accessibility for students and staff may make remote learning difficult or impossible.

Victoria Furlong, Vice President for Administration and Finance at SUNY Oswego, said that “it is standard practice for the college to carefully evaluate any widespread power and/or internet outages (during inclement weather) and include as part of its consideration to cancel classes or declare a remote instruction day.”

Childcare is also an issue that both faculty and students would face, Burch said via email. If the children of faculty and students also had a snow day, parents would be “switching their schedules over to online, dealing with children also being home from school and dealing with children also going remote at the same time their parents have to teach or attend remotely.”

In response to concerns of childcare, Toale said “We all must adapt and adjust to the conditions presented by inclement weather with the safety and well-being of all members of our campus community always our utmost priority. Students, faculty and staff should make the decision that is best for them, their safety and that of their families.”

Burch also pointed out timing issues, including professors having the time to prepare for a remote class, as well as already being on the way to campus when a remote learning day is announced.

“How well faculty can respond to [remote learning days] depends heavily on when their classes are being held,” Burch said. “Having a class four hours after ‘going remote’ is very different than having 30 minutes to organize a remote class.” 

“How do you switch to remote when you are in the car?” Burch said. “Do you continue to drive to campus so you start remote class on time? Do you return home and miss some class time? How do you inform your students along the way?”

In regards to timing, Westervelt said “when cancellations are announced or a remote instruction day is declared, “The SUNY Oswego administration carefully reviews numerous weather forecasts, warnings and advisories at all times of the day (often late at night into the early morning hours) and consults with reliable weather experts to make the most informed decision.[”] We then communicate immediately (via numerous channels) with students, faculty and staff and as far in advance of classes as possible.”

Burch said she originally told her class about the policy to “explain the complexities and issues of accessibility to [her] students regarding the policy.”

“This is actually a great critical thinking exercise for students who will go into careers that create organizational policies,” Burch said. “Creating any policy takes a great deal of critical thinking regarding who will be able to comply easily and who will have difficulties because of factors beyond their control.”

No specific email was sent out to announce the inclement weather policy change, Westervelt said. However, the policy was highlighted in the Jan. 27, 2022 Oswego Today. The policy is also available in the 2021-2022 Student Handbook.

“To best inform students of the college’s process associated with inclement weather practices, the new “remote instruction day” option was added to the 2021-2022 Student Handbook,” Kathleen G. Kerr, Vice President for Student Affairs, said. “An email was sent to all students on Aug. 26, 2021, from the Dean of Students, with the link to the current handbook and a reminder of its importance, and that it should be reviewed by all students.”

“Once a decision is made [to cancel classes or declare a remote instruction day] (often in the early morning hours), a formal announcement is shared via campus wide email, NY-Alert text message, and included in Oswego Today,” Toale said. “It is also shared out via social media and communicated out to the local TV/radio stations (for posting to the School Closings and Cancellations), and syracuse.com.” 

*The quotes from members of the SUNY Oswego administration were given to the Oswegonian by Chief Communication Officer Wayne Westervelt via email.

Kailee Montross | The Oswegonian