Catch-up days added at the end of term

DIANA GRIER AYTON | McGill is bucking a trend among universities affected by the blackout and taking a position that should make students very happy. Vice-Principal (Academic) Bill Chan has announced that McGill will not cancel the week-long February break to make up for time lost due to the ice storm. "We have decided instead to extend the term by a few days," Chan says. In many faculties, the last day of term originally fell in the middle of the week after Easter. "We have changed the schedule so that the Easter Monday holiday is cancelled and the term will be extended to the end of the week." A primary factor in the decision was that many students either go on vacation or return home during the break and would already have made reservations. The new plan for the academic schedule was just one of the many issues and decisions discussed by Chan and the other members of the Crisis Committee which began meeting during the first week of the ice storm. Chaired by Principal Shapiro and composed of vice-principals, deans, some department directors and other key individuals, the group met daily to decide immediate priorities and how the limited power available should be used. "I think we certainly learned something from the last time a power outage occurred," says Chan. (In September '96, a back-up power line to McGill failed while Hydro was repairing the main line, resulting in a 50-hour blackout.) "We were able on Friday to contact many of the individuals we were aware of whose research samples require low temperatures and some of the refrigerators were put onto emergency power. We also contacted the people in charge of animal centres." On the administrative side, the committee recognized the need to get paycheques distributed and made sure that power was available for the system's computers. Although the crisis has eased, Chan says the committee will meet again at the end of this week and begin to compile reports of damage and costs incurred. Adds Chan, "I think we, like everyone in the province, will look very hard at how much we rely on electricity and we have to certainly look at the possibility of sufficient alternatives to deal with emergency situations. We will review this experience and update our crisis management practice." The vice-principal says the human cost is a major concern right now. "My greatest worry is for the students who may just have arrived in Montreal from countries abroad and who will not have had time to set up a network. If you have a support network, it's easier to cope with something like this. I just hope they are all right. We have no way of knowing yet the problems they faced, but those stories will emerge in the next few days." So far the news is good, according to Chan. "I've been very impressed by the cooperation of so many people and the spirit of the students who helped run shelters at the Student Union and Thomson House and who organized and took part in the blood drive." There were also extra efforts made in behalf of students, says Chan, citing Flo Tracy and her residence staff, Judy Stymest and people in the financial aid office, and Dr. Pierre Tellier, who opened the student health clinic during the blackout. Calendar modifications for the Winter term The calendar of dates for the Winter term has been modified as follows: Late Registration: Deadline extended to Sunday, January 25 Course Change (Drop/Add): Deadline extended to Sunday, January 25 for all faculties, except Music (practical lessons), where the deadline is now Friday, January 23 Course Withdrawal: Deadline for D courses extended to Sunday, January 25; and for B term courses to Sunday, February 1, with fee refund less $100 minimum charge (no withdrawals from Education Intensive courses or Music ensembles and practical lessons) Fee Payment: Deadline for Winter term fees has been extended to Tuesday, January 27 Easter Monday: Holiday cancelled. Classes and laboratories will be scheduled on April 13. Academic Term: Last day of Winter term lectures in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (degree program), Arts (except special BSW), Education (non-blocked courses), Engineering, Graduate Studies, Management, Law, Music, Religious Studies, Science (including Nursing, Physical & Occupational Therapy and Dietetics) has been extended to Friday,April 17 Exam Period: Monday, April 20 to Friday, May 1, for B and D term courses in all faculties (including Nursing, Dietetics, P & OT, but excluding Medicine and Dentistry) All other calendar dates remain unchanged. Faculty may schedule additional make-up classes or laboratories in evenings or on weekends. For information specific to a particular faculty or course, please consult with your course instructor, or the Student Affairs Office of the faculty concerned.