Bethany Cole and other students walk to class in the Quad on the first day of the semester. Campus came to life Jan. 8 morning after extreme cold and snow canceled the first two days of the semester. Crews are still working to clear the sidewalks after Muncie received about foot of snow Jan. 5, according to the National Weather Service.

The university has rescheduled classes that were canceled Jan. 6 and Jan. 7 due to inclement weather, according to an email sent to students.

Citing federal regulations, the email said the new dates will allow students taking five-week courses to make up missed hours before the classes end.

“We have an obligation to our students,” said President Jo Ann Gora in a board of trustees meeting Jan. 16. “We don’t reduce their tuition costs, so we have an obligation to the instruction time.”

Provost Terry King said the University Senate passed a policy to align Ball State with the Higher Learning Commission and Department of Education standards, holding Ball State to a number of instructional days.

Jan. 6 classes

• Classes scheduled for before 6:30 p.m. will meet at the regular hours Feb. 1.

• Classes scheduled for after 6:30 p.m. will meet at the regular hours Jan. 31.

Jan. 7 classes

• Classes scheduled for before 6:30 p.m. will meet at the regular hours Feb. 8.

• Classes scheduled for after 6:30 p.m. will meet at the regular hours Feb. 7.

If students are not able to make these dates, they must settle the situation with their instructors per pre-established attendance policies.

“The university will develop a contingency plan for future semesters so that students and faculty will immediately know what to expect when classes are canceled,” the email said.

Students have turned their complaints to change.org, and created a petition in protest of the Saturday classes.

[View the story “Students react to making up snow days” on Storify]