January 25 Update
Columbus campus in-person class meetings are canceled for Monday, January 26, and Tuesday, January 27. The campus will remain open with limited services. Additional information is available at emergency.osu.edu.
Below are important updates for the Columbus campus to ensure that we can provide instructional continuity for Ohio State students:
- Where feasible, instructors scheduled to teach in-person on Monday, January 26, or Tuesday, January 27, are encouraged to host virtual synchronous classes.
- In situations where synchronous instruction is not feasible, asynchronous activities are encouraged. Asynchronous activities can include, but are not limited to, supplemental readings, videos or discussion posts.
- Instructors should communicate directly with students about their plans for Monday classes. Following the Weather or Other Short-Term Closing Policy, it is at the discretion of the instructor as to which alternative method of teaching will occur.
- We encourage instructors to be flexible with students who request special accommodations necessitated by the weather and its consequences.
- If a course has sections taught by multiple instructors, those instructors should consult with their unit head or supervisor to ensure consistency with the course continuity plan.
- Classes that are scheduled to take place online should continue as planned.
- If a make-up date is needed, please work with your unit’s scheduler to identify available space.
- While Franklin County is under a Level 3 Snow Emergency, the university has directed all departments and units to cancel or reschedule non-essential activities.
The above applies to the Columbus campus only, as each regional campus is communicating separately about their respective campus operations.
In the event of additional cancelations or weather impacts, the university will send a university-wide announcement to all students, faculty and staff from Emergency Management.
January 23 Update
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Franklin and surrounding counties for this Saturday morning through Monday at noon. Included below is general guidance from the Office of Academic Affairs regarding weather closings and instructional continuity.
Any impacts to Columbus campus operations, including in-class meetings, would be communicated centrally via the Buckeye Alert system. Impacts to regional campus operations would be communicated through campus leadership.
Given the timing of predicted weather, the Office of Academic Affairs encourages all instructors to be flexible as able with their students this Monday, Jan. 26.
Weather or other short-term closing
Following Policy 6.15 (Weather or Other Short-Term Closing), instructors are to notify students of alternative teaching methods when in-person class meetings are canceled. Alternative teaching methods can include virtual synchronous class meetings or asynchronous activities, including but not limited to videos, podcasts, supplemental readings, or discussion posts.
When in-person class meetings are canceled, instructors are encouraged to host virtual synchronous classes where feasible. In situations where synchronous instruction is not feasible, asynchronous activities are encouraged.
It is at the discretion of the instructor as to which alternative method of teaching will occur when in-person classes have been canceled. If a course has sections taught by multiple instructors, those instructors should consult with their TIU head to ensure consistency with the course continuity plan.
Unless announced otherwise, online or distance-learning classes would continue to occur as scheduled if in-person class meetings were canceled.