It's university policy, and so we will follow the university's policy.
Therefore, departments at Ball State University will observe Fruesday and attend Friday classes on Tuesday. At least, that's what representatives said from almost every department that could be reached. But while they will follow the policy, almost none have an enforcement or accountability plan to ensure those classes do meet.
Of the 47 departments at Ball State, 23 were contacted. All said they plan to follow it, and have sent out newsletters, e-mails or have spoken to instructors about treating it like a normal Friday.
Wonderful. We are all aware of Fruesday by now. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, especially since the departments are following the university's demand to treat it like a Friday.
But telling people to conduct their Friday classes on Tuesday and them actually doing it are completely different matters. Just ask the teachers who've already told their students there will be no class or it will be a "fluff" day.
Only one, the Department of Art, said it would actively track if instructors taught class, as it does on a regular basis. The Department Modern and Classical Languages will probably go around and check on classrooms.
The rest? It's mostly up to instructor discretion. Sure, it will be frowned upon and any time that an instructor doesn't hold class can affect salary increases and tenure track reviews. However, someone's tenure-track career isn't going to be derailed by canceling one class.
Students and instructors wanted to get rid of Saturday finals. Fruesday is the trade-off. If that trade was so important Fruesday should be observed correctly.
The departments are following the rules of the policy but not the spirit. They are treating Tuesday just like a Friday but not actively enforcing Fruesday. Someone - either every department or Ball State administrators - has to make these classes absolutely mandatory, check if they occur and take punitive measures against instructors who don't follow policy.
Otherwise, it's never going to work. There are three more school days until Fruesday. Either prepare for class or prepare to explain your absence.
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