Wherever possible, short notice changes to scheduled teaching activities should be avoided. They are disruptive to students and a regular source of student dissatisfaction, particularly when commuting to campus.
However, sometimes a change or postponement is unavoidable. In that circumstance, it is important you contact students to make them aware as soon as possible. We would like all staff to use the following two methods to contact students about short notice changes:
Send a text message to all students
We have a SHU Text Messaging Service (needs VPN or being on campus wi-fi) available to facilitate academics or their line managers notifying students of class postponements.
We recommend staff use the following wording for any messages:
Good morning. Due to staff illness, your [session title] scheduled for [date] [start time] – [end time] in [location] has been postponed.
View the guidance on using the system
Post a Blackboard announcement
When sending the Blackboard announcement please select the option to an email to all of the students. Blackboard announcements show up in the activity stream on Blackboard too, along with displaying in the mobile app, and providing a record of the change.
Instructions on how to post Blackboard announcements
Note about timetable changes
Where the timetable has been changed, students will get an email notification from the system. This would typically be more than 3 days before the session.
