Procedure 6.10.01

Part 1. Purpose

This procedure defines the processes followed at Minneapolis College and its satellite locations when it becomes necessary to cancel classes due to unforeseen availability of instructional faculty.

Part 2. Definitions

Cancellation of Classes: The process outlined below for faculty-initiated cancellation of classes applies to unanticipated situations such as illness, family emergencies, campus responsibilities, or other unforeseen events that prevent instructional faculty from holding classes as scheduled.

Credit Hour: College Policy 3.02 Earning Academic Credits defines the college's credit hour policy. In general, for each lecture credit earned by students, one credit hour occurs within the classroom or online setting and for each lab credit earned by students, two credit hours occur within the classroom lab setting.

Face-to-Face Courses: Courses in which all of the instruction takes place in a physical classroom.

Blended/Hybrid Courses: Courses in which part of the instruction takes place in a physical classroom and part of the instruction takes place outside of the classroom such as within the online environment.

Online Courses: Courses in which all of the instruction takes place in a virtual environment accessed through the internet.

Part 3. Procedures for Faculty-initiated Class Cancellations

Faculty who cancel their class are responsible for notifying the Office of Academic Affairs in a timely fashion using either the Academic Affairs email or telephone line established for this purpose. Notification will include the duration of the cancellation and any other information deemed relevant by faculty. Faculty do not have to use this class cancellation notification process for planned absences that have been outlined in the course syllabi before the start of the semester and approved by the dean through the completion of an Alternate Assignment Approval Form.

Faculty are responsible for completing the necessary applications for the appropriate leave (sick time or personal leave) as soon as possible and, at a minimum, before the end of the pay period. If a faculty member cancels all the courses they teach in a day, they must​​ take a full day of sick time or personal leave, unless they document that they were away from their duties only a portion of the day. If a faculty member cancels a portion of the courses they teach in a day, they must take a half day of sick time or personal leave. Faculty do not need to take sick or personal leave if they are canceling class due to a work-related activity where such absence has been approved by the dean using an Alternate Assignment Approval Form.

Part 4. Alteration of Delivery Method for Blended/Hybrid Courses

In the case of courses designated as blended/hybrid, faculty may alter the delivery method instead of canceling the class if they are absent due to unanticipated situations such as illness, a family emergency, campus responsibilities, or other unforeseen events.

When the delivery method is altered and approved by the faculty's supervisor by email and the integrity of the credit hour is maintained, faculty will not be required to take sick or personal leave. Faculty must, however, follow the class cancellation procedure outlined in Part 3 to ensure appropriate communications are made to the students about the cancellation of the in-person session. Faculty also are responsible for communicating what work the students are expected to do instead of attending the canceled in-person class session.

Owner(s) Title: Vice President of Academic Affairs

Date of Adoption: 5/16/2019

Date of Implementation (if different from adoption date): N/A

Date Last Reviewed: 7/10/2024 (Focused Review: Clarified language outlining necessary communication between dean and faculty for planned absences; clarified how faculty in hybrid/blended courses should communicate with dean and students when altering delivery for a class session due to unanticipated circumstances)

History and Subject of Revisions: 7/10/2024 (Focused Review: Clarified language outlining necessary communication between dean and faculty for planned absences; clarified how faculty in hybrid/blended courses should communicate with dean and students when altering delivery for a class session due to unanticipated circumstances); 5/16/2019 (Adopted)

Regulatory Authority (e.g. Minnesota State policy, federal or state law):  N/A