Between 10 and 20 inches of snow are expected to fall in the District Saturday, according to the National Weather Service, threatening final exams for 12 classes, a University administrator said Friday.

Caitlin Huntley, director of academic scheduling, said 18 finals are scheduled for Saturday, but after contacting the professors for these classes, she learned that only 12 of the classes were scheduled to actually have a final exam in the classroom.

Huntley said that for these 12 classes, the University is advising professors to have a backup plan by posting exams on Blackboard, emailing an exam, or offering the students a final paper in replacement of an exam.

In the four years that Huntley has served as the University’s director of academic scheduling, she said she has never ran into the issue of winter storms threatening to cancel final exams. She added that it is not unusual for final exams to be held on a Saturday.

Professor John Forrer’s introduction to management class is scheduled to take their final exam on Saturday. He said he has every intention of holding his exam, even if he has to “strap up the dog sled” to get there.

Forrer added that some of his students are nervous they will not be able to make it to the exam.

“Students mentioned to me that they went home because this was their last final, but they had a long gap between exams, so they went home and they would be coming into town for this exam,” Forrer said. “They are nervous [to get back into town] and I am nervous.” 

Forrer said he intents to post his exam on Blackboard for students who cannot make it to the classroom to take the exam. 

GW’s residence halls are also scheduled to close for the fall semester at noon on Sunday, potentially causing problems for the students whose travel plans get foiled by the inclement weather.

University spokeswoman Michelle Sherrard said the University is currently working out a plan in case this situation arises.