FAQs for Faculty

No, since there is no guarantee that every class member will be able to communicate or access academic resources. No communication will be expected, including email. All activities or deadlines such as class meetings, quizzes, exams and assignments that occur within the time the campus is closed should be adjusted to after the campus reopens.

You can cancel your class if you cannot get to campus due to inclement weather at or near your home. Please do not hold class on zoom since there is no guarantee of the ability to communicate or access academic resources for every class member

No. Since there is no guarantee of the ability to communicate or access academic resources for every class member, communication will not be expected when campus is closed. Course activities or deadlines scheduled within the time the campus is closed should be adjusted to after the campus reopens.

All course activities or deadlines that occur within the time the campus is closed should be adjusted to after the campus reopens.

Any activities or deadlines scheduled to occur within the time when campus is closed should be adjusted to after the campus reopens.

No. Any make-up time will take place during the scheduled class time or through out-of-class activities. Faculty should not schedule additional class meetings where all students are expected to attend—in-person or online—outside of normal class hours.

When campus closures are predicted, faculty may communicate with students to provide expectations for upcoming course activities in the case of campus closing. No communication is expected between faculty and students once the campus closes, since communication may not be possible for every class member.

When campus reopens, faculty will inform students of adjusted course expectations and deadlines to make sure the course learning objectives are met.

We encourage you to include the syllabus statement to address students’ expectations.

No classes can be held on campus when the university is officially closed. The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff are of the utmost importance.

Faculty are encouraged to build flexibility into your course schedules to account for personal illness or campus closures. Do not schedule additional class meetings where all students are expected to attend (in-person or online) outside of normal class hours. Instead, utilize out-of-class activities that students can complete in a reasonable timeframe, such as homework, reviewing a PowerPoint, watching a recorded lecture video, reading, writing a reflection, etc.

SACSCOC requirements follow the U.S. Department of Education definition of a credit hour at one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class work each week for approximately 15 weeks. For TCU, this requirement is met by having coursework equal 700 minutes of instruction per credit hour plus 150 minutes of a final evaluative exercise. The use of asynchronous instruction allows using out-of-class activities for making up missed class time due to campus closures without the need for scheduling specified make-up days.

The emergency preparedness committee meets daily during inclement weather to make crucial decisions about travel and safety, and makes every effort to inform the campus community of closings and openings as much in advance as possible advance.

In the case of a delayed opening, facility services is notified to open buildings at least 30 minutes in advance of the allotted time to open, to give faculty, staff and students time to prepare for class and work.

Zooming into the classroom while sick or away from campus is not an option at TCU, unless the entire course is taught online. Students must notify their faculty when they are sick and miss class, and work with faculty to make up missed materials. Students who miss class due to an illness – including COVID – are expected to report the illness via the Absence Documentation Form on the Dean of Students website.

The Dean of Students will provide appropriate documentation and then notify the student’s professors.  This documentation allows the Dean’s office to verify the event, which can assist faculty in making an appropriate decision.

Examples of critical situations and/or medical or family emergencies may include:

• Apartment fire or natural disaster
• Concussions
• COVID-19 concerns
• Death in the family
• Hospitalizations
• Interpersonal violence

The following examples are not considered emergencies, and related absences should be addressed directly with faculty, not the Dean of Students Office:

• Allergies
• Family graduations
• Job interviews
• Relationship conflicts
• Roommate conflicts
• Weddings
• Internship interviews

Students may be excused for absences when:

1. Representing the university (as in athletics, chorus, band, national or state meetings of organizations represented at TCU). An Official University Absence may be granted by the Dean of Students Office.
2. Observing Holy Days (see below for more information)
3. Participating in active military service (see below for more information)
4. Related to pregnancy or childbirth, for both parents.

Faculty/staff who wish to have an activity sanctioned for Official University Absence status must submit the names of all students, including date and hours absent from campus, to the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudents@tcu.edu no later than one week prior to the date of the activity. The Dean of Students (and/or their designee) reviews and approves the request as appropriate and notifies impacted students’ faculty via email.

Mandates for excused absences for holy days, active military service and TCU-related trips are posted here: deanofstudents.tcu.edu/faculty-staff/#StudentAbsences.

Updated Title IX regulations now mandate excused absences related to pregnancy and childbirth for both parents. In such instances, TCU must allow excused students to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before their absence(s), and provide them the opportunity to make up missed work, including class participation grades. Questions about Title IX should be directed to the Office of Institutional Equity. Associate Provost Reginald Wilburn is working with OIE to confirm policies and procedures related to the updated Title IX mandates, to be established and posted by the beginning of the fall 2023 semester.

Yes. In accordance with Texas Education Code Section 51.911 Religious Holy Days, an institution of higher education shall excuse a student from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day.

TCU’s policy for Religious Observances and Holidays states that students must notify faculty or staff the first two weeks of the semester of their intention to be absent from class or the required event on their day(s) of religious observance. A faculty member may appropriately respond if the student fails to satisfactorily complete the assignment or examination within a reasonable time after the absence.

For more details on this policy, please visit the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life’s webpage.

All work for all excused absences must be mad

Yes. In accordance with Texas Education Code Section 51.9111 Excused Absence for Active Military Service, when a student is called into active military service, including travel associated with that service, an institution of higher education shall excuse the student from attending classes or engaging in other required activities, including exams.

The student may not be penalized for the absence and shall be allowed to complete assignments and exams within a reasonable time after the absence.

The Dean of Students (deanofstudents@tcu.edu) can assist students with verifying the excused absence by collecting and storing appropriate documentation and then notifying the student’s professors. Faculty are encouraged to work with the student to help them satisfactorily complete assignments and exams within a reasonable time. If assignments and exams are not completed within a reasonable time, faculty make take appropriate action.

Yes. Updated Title IX regulations now mandate excused absences related to pregnancy and childbirth for both parents. In such instances, TCU must allow excused students to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before their absence(s), and provide them the opportunity to make up missed work, including class participation grades. Questions about Title IX should be directed to the Office of Institutional Equity.

Associate Provost Reginald Wilburn is working with OIE to confirm policies and procedures related to the updated Title IX mandates, to be established and posted by the beginning of the fall 2023 semester.

Note that, according to legal regulations, and in the best interest of student success, all work for all excused absences must be made up within a reasonable timeframe after any absence, not while students are away.

If you are concerned about a student please contact the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudents@tcu.edu. Concerns often revolve around excessive class absences and/or performance on major assignments. The Dean’s office is available to work with faculty and other resources to help guide students toward success.

Report a non-emergency student concern by filling out the online form.

To help you recognize and respond to distressed students, the TCU Counseling & Mental Health Center provides training: Faculty/Staff 911. To schedule training within your department, email the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudents@tcu.edu.

For immediate health and safety concerns about your student, contact the TCU Police Department at 817-257-7777.