University of Maryland Provost Mary Ann Rankin made clear that she expects faculty to hold classes, even in the case of national protests, in an email from Tuesday.
While Prince George’s County schools closed Wednesday due to the ‘A Day Without a Woman’ strike (where more than 1,000 teachers requested off), UMD faculty and staff were advised against that option.
Faculty are “expected to convene all classes for the entire stated time,” she wrote in the email. “For rare circumstances that preclude convening classes, the instructor should notify the department chair as far in advance as possible and, where possible, notify affected students.”
Rankin also listed three potential options for teaching faculty to make up their classes, in the chance that they didn’t show up to teach.
She suggested rescheduling to meet, arranging an alternate way to teach — for example, hosting a discussion online — or setting up a university faculty member with a Master’s degree to teach during normal section hours.
UMD students took part in the day’s protests as well – the entire Women’s Studies department closed for the day in support of the movement. Students and faculty protested on McKeldin Mall throughout the day.
The ‘A Day Without a Woman’ strike, which prompted school and business closings in Washington and other major cities, highlighted the value women have toward contributing to the socioeconomic system. The event encouraged women to take a day off from work and shop only at women- or minority-owned businesses.
