College Professors Asked To Cancel Classes for Solar Eclipse

Some college students in West Lafayette, Indiana, could see their afternoon classes canceled on April 8 in response to the total solar eclipse that day.

On April 8, the moon will be positioned so that the entire disc of the sun will be blocked out in several U.S. states, plunging millions of people into darkness during the early afternoon.

The path of totality will start in Mexico and extend across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine before heading out over the North Atlantic.

The spectacle is expected to draw crowds from around the nation as people head to areas in the path of totality to witness the eclipse. Officials across the nation have voiced concerns about stretched public safety resources, an “enormous strain” on local hospitals and congested roadways.

Some schools already plan to close for the day, citing student safety. Administrators at Purdue University in West Lafayette are urging instructors to adjust course schedules accordingly.

“Many students have expressed a desire to participate in Purdue events on campus and in Indianapolis connected to the April 8 solar eclipse,” a press release on Purdue’s website said.

“Because of the rarity of the event and high level of interest, the Office of the Provost is encouraging (but not requiring) instructors on the Purdue West Lafayette campus to cancel afternoon class meetings on April 8 (12:30-5:20 p.m.).

“This may not be possible in all scenarios, such as when the class activity is essential for student licensure or degree completion and cannot be rescheduled or replaced with equivalent activities.”

Administrators are asking professors to inform students of their decision of whether to cancel classes by March 23. However, it is unlikely that the university will require classes to be canceled.

“I feel confident in saying that we will not require anyone to cancel,” Purdue senior director of media and public relations Tim Doty told Newsweek.

West Lafayette is not within the path of totality. However, the residents of the city will be able to witness a partial eclipse. Indiana cities within the path of totality will have just under 4 minutes to view the total eclipse. Many of the cities are expecting thousands of visitors, including Bloomington, where 300,000 people are expected to visit the college town.

All Indiana University in-person classes have been canceled, according to a report by IU Today, as the university’s campuses in Bloomington, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Richmond and Columbus will be in the path of totality.

At least four states within the path of totality have urged residents to stock up on groceries and gas in the days leading up to the eclipse, as traffic is expected to overwhelm local roads.