Classes

Last updated Nov. 8, 2005

Beginning on Monday, November 7, all Florida Atlantic University classes and business operations on all campuses will resume normal operations.

To recover academically from the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, FAU has developed a plan that allows maximum flexibility for each of the more than 3,000 courses that were affected in different ways by the storms. This plan was developed with the broad input of the university community. Under the plan, one additional day of class time has been recaptured by the elimination of Reading Day and the restructuring of commencement, which will be held on December 9 only, instead of December 8 & 9. An optional additional week of class meeting time will be made available the week after commencement ceremonies for those classes that were most adversely affected, primarily certain evening and weekend classes and special classes such as internships. Daytime classes will follow the original calendar of classes and final exams as modified individually. Faculty in all classes will work with their students to prepare individual plans for accommodating lost class time that will be reviewed and approved by respective department chairs and deans no later than November 10. In addition certain deadlines are being extended as needed.  Students should work with their professors to get details on how each class will be modified.  For more information on the academic recovery plan, please visit http://www.fau.edu/recovery05/faculty.htm .

Evening Classes Resume

As Florida Atlantic University prepares to begin its evening classes on Monday, Nov. 7 it is important to remind the university community that we are still working to return the university to its normal operations in the wake of Hurricane Wilma.

Since the storm, officials have been clearing debris, conducting lighting and building assessments and repairing damage caused to the campuses in an effort to bring university functions to 100% status as soon as possible.

As you return to campus in the evening please note:

• Some university lighting was damaged during the storm; however, additional lighting will be provided for walkways and parking areas as necessary. In addition, lights on the Boca Raton campus soccer and baseball fields will be used to provide perimeter lighting of the Boca Raton campus grounds. Please note FAU has recently developed a “lighting plan,” which once implemented would enhance the lighting on the Boca Raton campus in the future. Plans for conducting similar evaluations of each of the FAU campuses are in place. These plans will be factored into our ongoing recovery efforts in the wake of the recent storm.
• FAU will have an increased law enforcement personnel presence where necessary to provide additional security and assist the university community with any questions or issues that may arise as evening classes begin.
• All of the university's emergency call boxes are operational and are directly connected to the university's police services department.
• The university's NightOwls program will have an additional presence until such time the university returns to normal operations. The NightOwls program will provide to the university community an individual who will accompany a student, faculty or staff member to any university location.  The NightOwls have direct communication with the police services department in cases of emergency.  This service can be reached at 561-297-6695.
• As always we are calling on all of our students, faculty and staff to be “pedestrian friendly” during our day and evening class sessions.

At FAU the safety our faculty, staff, students and visitors continues to be our number one priority. We welcome everyone back and look forward to a successful conclusion of this fall semester.

Because of changes in the Fall semester created by Hurricane Wilma, and changes caused by construction of the library addition, regular semester hours for the Wimberly Library will be:

Mon-Thursday   8:00 a.m. - midnight

Friday        8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday       9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Sunday       Noon - midnight

Fall Semester 2005 begins on Monday, August 22, 2005, and ends on Friday, December 9, 2005; however, the term will be extended until Dec. 17 for some evening and weekend classes.  Final exams will still take place from December 1-8.

From August 22 - November 27, the hours will be as previously posted for the Spring semester.  From November 28 through December 8, the Library will be open until 2 a.m. each day, to enable students to study for final exams and finish final papers.

From December 9-17, the Library will revert to regular semester hours as listed above.

Beginning on December 18, the Library will be closed to the public because of demolition work in connection with the construction of the new addition to the building [unless the construction schedule is so delayed that demolition cannot occur at this time].

The Library will continue to be closed to the public until the day before start of the 2006 Spring semester on January 8, or until demolition work is completed.  Watch the front door of the building, and the library's web site ( www.fau.edu/library ) for updates on opening and closing.

The Library will be closed on Friday, November 11 (Veteran's Day), and November 24-25 (Thanksgiving).  The Library will be open noon-8:00 p.m. on November 26-27.

Intersession will last until the beginning of the Spring 2006 term on Monday, January 9.  If construction/demolition work allows, the hours during Intersession ( December 9 - January 7) will generally be as posted for the previous Intersession, i.e. open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and closed on weekends.

Regardless of other circumstances, the Library will be closed December 24-26 (Christmas) and January 1-2.  The Library will be open on Sunday, January 8, from noon to 8:00 p.m., construction work permitting, to help people prepare for the new semester.

Spring Semester, 2006 begins on January 9, and ends on May 5.  Hours will generally be as posted for Spring, 2005.  The Library will be closed on January 17 (M.L. King Day).  During Spring Break, March 7-13, the Library will observe reduced hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Intersession hours will run from May 5 through May 14, with hours as posted above for Intersessions.

Summer 2006 Semester will run from May 15 - August 11.  Hours will be as posted for previous Summer sessions.  The Library will be closed on May 29 (Memorial Day) and July 4.

Q&A – FAU Hurricane Recovery Efforts