Update on Canvas, Finals Tomorrow (Friday)

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students:

I recognize that the nationwide situation with Canvas being down is seriously disrupting your preparations for final exams.  After careful consideration of the circumstances, we have decided to delay final exams tomorrow, Friday, May 8th.  At this time, we do not know how long Canvas will be unavailable.  It could be hours or it could be days.  In the meantime, with finals scheduled for tomorrow, students may not be able to access the materials they need to study.

I will be in touch again by Noon tomorrow regarding final exams for Saturday, May 9th. In that message, we hope to provide an update on how and when we will make up Friday’s exams. In the meantime, if Canvas becomes available, please do not access your materials until the University has sent a message indicating that doing so is advisable.  As soon as Canvas is functional, the University’s ITS team will review the system carefully and download all data as quickly as possible so that a local copy has been secured.

In addition, I encourage faculty to send whatever study materials they have on their local computers to students as soon as possible so that they can study for final exams. This request applies to all faculty giving exams beginning tomorrow through Wednesday of next week.

I recognize that this disruption has impacted the educational environment at an incredibly difficult time, and we appreciate your patience while the issue is unfolding. 

Sincerely,

Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D.
Provost