The Fora: A Higher Education Community

I'm not sure whether requiring students to arrange alteratives to due dates for religious reasons is compatible with my school's policy.

I did check with the dept chair about a student who asked to be able to make up missed work after final grades were submitted, and the chair said yes, allow it.

Quote from: Dismal on May 07, 2024, 03:45:01 PMSt. Cloud State in Minnesota announced plans to terminate 46 out of 136 degree programs.  See page 42 of this slide show:  https://www.scribd.com/document/729982751/St-Cloud-State-University-Budget-Update-May-6-2024#from_embed

St. Cloud apparently is the most worse off financially of all of the MN state schools.

With a steadily declining and 50% enrollment drop since 2011 something had to give!

The dogs alerted me to a beautiful young Coyote on the other side of my back fence at the edge of the woods last evening. I suspect it was a recently evicted young-in, we had another sighting around this time last year. He hung around for a bit until the barking sent him scampering back into the deep woods. Now if they would only finish the construction in our neighborhood so the deer would come back...

Students need to let you know well in advance that they won't be able to submit assignments on certain dates or days of the week. Assignments for my courses are usually due on Fridays by 5 PM or Sundays by midnight (assignments are submitted online) which helps students who observe the sabbath on Saturdays. If you have a sentence about your religious exemption policy in your syllabus, you shouldn't have problems with students taking unfair advantage of exemptions. We aren't allowed to ask for proof.

Good morning!

Genius with the pangram. Last word yesterday was oddball.

cathwen, glad that things sorted themselves out so smoothly. Used cars are at a premium these days! I still get letters and emails from dealers wanting to buy my almost 8-yearold car.

Happy solving!

Does your school require students who miss work due to religious reasons
A. to make a declaration of their religion to the school?
B. to make arrangements with the professor about when to do the make up work BEFORE the religious holiday, or within some specified time period after the holiday?

My school doesn't. It is rather inconvenient having to sort things out at the end of the semester, even after final grades have been submitted. Fortunately, it isn't a big problem. So far. I do wonder if students might start to take advantage of such an open policy.

Currentyly working my way through all the original Beatles albums on Vinyl (thabks Dad!)

This moment - The White Album

Quote from: Wahoo Redux on May 07, 2024, 07:52:37 PM

Quote from: Hibush on May 07, 2024, 10:36:08 AMI wonder how MIT worded the request so that it appeared to be compelled speech.

I think it actually has to do with the answer: you must answer in a very specific way, with specific jargon, and agree to a specific ideology, to get the job.  That is my takeaway from the mass of articles and complaints out there.

Is there evidence that MIT was actually doing that?
Our DEI/HR reps are clear that doing so is completely unacceptable. We're trying to hire the best people, and some skills in serving a diverse audience are valuable but subscribing to a particular ideology is definitely not.

Quote from: Hibush on May 07, 2024, 10:36:08 AMI wonder how MIT worded the request so that it appeared to be compelled speech.

I think it actually has to do with the answer: you must answer in a very specific way, with specific jargon, and agree to a specific ideology, to get the job.  That is my takeaway from the mass of articles and complaints out there.

If I were truthful, I would say that all students are equal in my eyes until they F*** up in my classes, and then some students are obviously better than others no matter their ethnic or race or religion or socioeconomic status.  But that absolutely would not fly.  And I can't just say, "I am very aware that some topics are sensitive to some people, so I avoid those unless they are absolutely necessary or are brought up by a student, and then I take steps in class and out to make sure that said topics are handled appropriately." DEI wants more than this, and I am never sure what that is.

Two hundred years ago today Ludwig van Beethoven's ninth premiered in Vienna. I've been listening to Ludwig all evening, and the ninth right now.