By Stephen K. Cooper
Blizzards Mangle Largo Student Center Canopy, Extend Spring Semester into late May
The twin snow blizzards that paralyzed the Washington metropolitan area in early February did more than just cancel classes for nearly two weeks at Prince George’s Community College. Heavy snow collapsed a canopy located above the Largo Student Center and transformed the main campus parking lot into a snow filled maze with limited visibility for drivers.
But long after the snow melts into memory, PGCC students will still be dealing with the aftermath.
Dr. Sandra F. Dunnington, PGCC vice president for academic affairs, said that in order for students to get the appropriate instruction time in the Spring 2010 semester, classes will be extended by an extra week. For all full semester courses, the final class week/exam week will be held May 18th to May 24th, not May 11th to 17th as listed in the current schedule.
Weekender, Saturday and Sunday courses will also have additional classes during the semester to make up for the snow closings. Commencement will be held as scheduled on May 27th. However, diplomas will be mailed to graduates, rather than being handed out at the ceremony, since the college will not have time to complete the graduate certification process.
“We didn’t cancel Spring Break,” said Dunnington. “We felt it was too close to cancel it. People might already have plans and reservations in place.” The current Spring break is scheduled for March 29th to April 4th. Dunnington said that if there are more snowstorms that cancel classes this winter, the schedule will only permit another three additional days of instruction in May.
The additional week was required by the state Secretary for Higher Education in order to meet Maryland Higher Education Commission guidelines for making up time missed in classes, labs and practical experiences. Dunnington said the extended week was approved by PGCC President Dr. Charlene Dukes, following a recommendation made by academic and student services leaders on February 16.
The nearly three feet of snow dropped on campus required the Facilities Management Department to hire contractors with heavy equipment to clear the parking lots. Dr. David Mosby, Dean of Facilities Management, said he was seeking estimates on the cost of repairing the crushed canopy and would also report the damage to the college’s insurance company. “When you have a snow load like that on a span with canvas on it, it eventually will give way,” he said.
His department’s efforts to clean the parking lot didn’t go unnoticed by students. Cheyanne Johnson, a third semester student, said she thought the Facilities Management Department did a “really good job” of clearing the snow from campus. Johnson said she spent part of the week off from school studying for a history exam.
Blizzards Mangle Largo Student Center Canopy, Extend Spring Semester into late May
The twin snow blizzards that paralyzed the Washington metropolitan area in early February did more than just cancel classes for nearly two weeks at Prince George’s Community College. Heavy snow collapsed a canopy located above the Largo Student Center and transformed the main campus parking lot into a snow filled maze with limited visibility for drivers.
But long after the snow melts into memory, PGCC students will still be dealing with the aftermath.
Dr. Sandra F. Dunnington, PGCC vice president for academic affairs, said that in order for students to get the appropriate instruction time in the Spring 2010 semester, classes will be extended by an extra week. For all full semester courses, the final class week/exam week will be held May 18th to May 24th, not May 11th to 17th as listed in the current schedule.
Weekender, Saturday and Sunday courses will also have additional classes during the semester to make up for the snow closings. Commencement will be held as scheduled on May 27th. However, diplomas will be mailed to graduates, rather than being handed out at the ceremony, since the college will not have time to complete the graduate certification process.
“We didn’t cancel Spring Break,” said Dunnington. “We felt it was too close to cancel it. People might already have plans and reservations in place.” The current Spring break is scheduled for March 29th to April 4th. Dunnington said that if there are more snowstorms that cancel classes this winter, the schedule will only permit another three additional days of instruction in May.
The additional week was required by the state Secretary for Higher Education in order to meet Maryland Higher Education Commission guidelines for making up time missed in classes, labs and practical experiences. Dunnington said the extended week was approved by PGCC President Dr. Charlene Dukes, following a recommendation made by academic and student services leaders on February 16.
The nearly three feet of snow dropped on campus required the Facilities Management Department to hire contractors with heavy equipment to clear the parking lots. Dr. David Mosby, Dean of Facilities Management, said he was seeking estimates on the cost of repairing the crushed canopy and would also report the damage to the college’s insurance company. “When you have a snow load like that on a span with canvas on it, it eventually will give way,” he said.
His department’s efforts to clean the parking lot didn’t go unnoticed by students. Cheyanne Johnson, a third semester student, said she thought the Facilities Management Department did a “really good job” of clearing the snow from campus. Johnson said she spent part of the week off from school studying for a history exam.
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