Disclaimer: Canceling a class to allow students to attend a protest or rally may violate university policies, as class time and office hours are essential components of the educational process. Students pay tuition for specific instructional hours, and professors are expected to fulfill and prioritize their teaching responsibilities. Class cancellations are typically allowed only for specific reasons, such as illness, emergencies, or university-approved activities. Encouraging students to participate in events unrelated to the course content – or canceling class or office hours to do so – could breach university policies and disrupt the student-university contract. 

Key Note for Students: It is generally against university policy for a professor to attend a rally or protest during a time when they are scheduled to hold office hours or teach a class. The following steps outline possible actions that might be taken when this happens, but should not be construed as advice or instructions for any specific incident. For assistance in determining whether a policy may have been violated and in evaluating what actions to take when this occurs, you may want to reach out to StandWithUs.  

STEP 1: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Review your university’s policies, particularly the Faculty Code of Conduct, to understand your rights as a student, as well as the professor's obligations. Search for specific language in university policy regarding class cancellations, faculty responsibilities, and students’ rights to receive the full educational experience. Many universities include language such as: “significant intrusion of material unrelated to the course” or “failure to meet class, keep office hours, or hold exams as scheduled” without a legitimate reason.

STEP 2: DOCUMENT THE INCIDENT

If a class or office hours are canceled for non-academic reasons, record the details - date, time, and what the professor said or did. Save evidence such as emails, digital announcements, or class recordings confirming the professor’s encouragement of or participation in such events.

STEP 3: REPORT TO THE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT CHAIR

After gathering documentation and reviewing policies, you may want to send a formal email to the Department Chair or Dean to report the incident. An example of such an email is provided below.

📩Click here for a draft you can use to report the class cancellation for Non-Academic Reasons 📩

STEP 4: REPORT THE INCIDENT

When an incident involving antisemitic discrimination or harassment occurs, you may also want to submit a detailed report to your university’s official bias incident reporting system. When doing so, it is important to attach supporting documentation, including emails, messages, or class announcements where the professor “fails to meet class, keep office hours, or hold exams as scheduled.” Additionally, it can be helpful to clearly explain how these incidents negatively impact your experience in the course and why the cancellation of class sessions, exams, or office hours is not permitted based on the university’s policies.  You may also mention that as a student, you pay for and value all course sessions, and when the professor cancels class time or office hours for reasons that violate university policy, your financial and academic investment in the course is being undermined. Again, before submitting such a report, we encourage you to reach out to an organization like StandWithUs, which may be able to assist you.