By Ella Zinken
The University of Tampa sent an email on Mon. Nov. 14, informing students and faculty that the University will be starting Saturday classes on Oct. 19.
The email said due to a requirement of the school’s accrediting body, SACSCOC, UTampa would be required to make up the eight missed days.
David Stern, the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, was part of the decision.
“[The deans and I] knew that faculty would have many options to make up missed classes, but that some would need to meet in person,” said Stern.
He said this was created to help the faculty plan as they revised their syllabi to accommodate for the disruptions.
Stern said he wanted to clarify the misinterpretation that it was mandatory classes every Saturday and Sunday for the rest of the semester.
“We always knew that faculty members would make a variety of choices that fit their classes best,” he said.
Students have said they had mixed reactions to the news they received the first day after returning from the hurricane.
Rumors had circulated about the potential weekend classes before an email was sent out. The classes were added to the University’s academic calendar the day before the official statement came out.
“I found out about it through the rumors,” said senior Morgan Massa. “I don’t appreciate how it was put out and how the email was confusing,” she said.
Massa said she wished the school would have explained the email better to clarify the expectations.
“The professors have been the ones to explain to us, and I feel like they are the ones who had to take the heat for the added classes,” said Massa.
Senior international business and entrepreneurship major Sarah Hernandez said the professors’ explanations helped.
“At first I was upset, but I understand how the accreditation works and how without that, all of our hard work would be nothing,” said Hernandez.
Without the added Saturday classes, the semester would have to be extended further into Christmas break.
“Christmas break is what students look forward to,” said Hernandez.
While some students recognize why this change is happening, others have expressed frustrations. Hannah Smith, senior biology major, said she is stressed by the added days.
“That’s supposed to be our time to relax and decompress from school,” said Smith.
The email ended by saying faculty may choose different paths to the end of the semester. Students can communicate with their professors about the plan for their class.