This page explains the procedures to follow when you are unable to meet your class, recitation, clinic or scheduled office hour.
Contact Information
If you need to contact the department before or after normal business hours, please call 315-443-3849 and leave a message or send an email to math-staff@listserv.syr.edu. All staff members, and any work study student working at the front desk can retrieve the messages left at this number. When you call during normal business hours, you can call any of the staff members, and speak to someone. Do not leave a voice mail message at their extension, as only that person can retrieve the message. Should that person not be present that day no one will get the message. Be sure to include your name, the situation, and a number where you can be reached. If you do need to call or email a particular staff member, see staff contact information.
Attendance Policy
The department insists that you adhere to your class, clinic (if it applies), and office hours schedule at all times. TAs may not change your recitations or class times without first notifying and receiving approval from Professor Moira McDermott even if the change is only temporary. However, we understand that unavoidable circumstances do arise. In those cases, please follow the procedures listed below:
Classes
(Faculty): If someone is going to cover your classes in your absence, make sure that the office staff in 215 Carnegie are aware of this. An email to math-staff@listserv.syr.edu would suffice. Should something unforeseen happen, the office staff need to be able to answer the questions/complaints that students bring to Math Office.
(TAs): You are expected to be present at all your scheduled class sessions and office hours. If you are ill and unable to teach your class(es), you should first try to make arrangements for a substitute (you might ask an instructor in the same course.) If you are able to get a replacement for your class(es) you should make arrangements to return the favor. Make certain the substitute is aware of what chapter, section, etc. that you would cover. You are required to inform Professor McDermott as soon as possible of the details of any such substitute arrangement. Do not cancel a class or make arrangements for a substitute for any reason other than illness, without getting approval in advance from Professor McDermott. Approval will usually be given for participation in a professional conference. If you are ill and unable to make arrangements for someone to teach for you, you should contact any of the staff members, and speak to someone. But please do not leave a voice mail message at their extension, as only that person can retrieve the message. Should that person not be present that day no one would get the message. This should be done by 8:30 am. When you call to report the absence, you should be prepared to tell what was to be covered that day. If we cancel your class, you will need to schedule a make-up class for any missed class(es). The make-up class(es) you schedule must be scheduled at a time when all (or at least most) of your students can attend. (Be sure you make Ms. Jarvi, and the course supervisor aware of any makeup class(es) you schedule.) See Ms. Jarvi to schedule a classroom for the make-up class(es).
Office Hours and Math Clinic
If you are unable to meet your office hour or a clinic hour for a legitimate reason, please contact any one of the staff members and speak to someone so a sign can be posted canceling your hour.