Winter’s fury now has closed the university five times, wreaking havoc on professors’ syllabi.

Monday through Thursday four-credit morning classes have had four days – the equivalent of a week – sliced from their schedules. Tuesday and Thursday morning classes have lost three days, or more than one week’s worth of material.

The Faculty Association would be acting appropriately by making April 24, the Thursday before finals week, a class day rather than a day off to study.

Though this may not be the most appealing option to students, it best accommodates the unfortunate realities of an exceptionally inclement winter.

Students pay tuition under the impression that a certain amount of material will be covered throughout the class. With cancellations as abundant as they have been, it no longer is reasonable to expect professors to cram in an adequate amount – and if they did, the presentation would be too rushed to be meaningful.

Surely students would be upset about an extra day of school. But there should be a compromise. Since Tuesday-Thursday morning classes were hit the hardest, classes should take place only until noon on April 24.

This way Tuesday-Thursday classes after 2 p.m. – which only have missed one period – would not unnecessarily burden students with a rescheduled section.

Having one extra day of classes, at the very least, would help professors cut their losses. Two fewer days of class may be manageable, but three, or even four, becomes unreasonably hectic.

That said, April 24 classes should reflect this threshold.

The study day has its merits. For students about to enter a week of continuous exams and projects, a day off certainly feels like quite the blessing.

But let’s be serious. How many students really use the extra time to study?

Opening classes for only the morning still would give students the afternoon off. If students plan to go home for the weekend, they can leave later that day. This schematic would best reconcile the needs of both students and professors.

If professors or students still feel there is not enough class time for the material, they have ample opportunity to meet during the professor’s office hours. Professors should do all they can to have open as many office hours as possible.

Likewise, it would not be a poor idea to host optional study sessions at either the professor’s office or a local coffee shop, especially if many students request additional help.

The Faculty Association, when weighing what to do on April 24, should encourage professors to go above and beyond routine class hours.

This winter’s weather has been horrid, but if handled appropriately, students’ education will not suffer as a result.

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