In the weeks following the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, Yeshiva's administration has been trying to determine the best possible solution to make up missed classes from the week of the tragedy. The official policy of the school, which came down sometime in the early afternoon of September 11th, was that all classes would be in session for that day and certainly thereafter. However, due to road closings, few professors were able to make it into Manhattan; some could not even enter throughout the week. Consequently, the administration is still deliberating on whether to add an official class or two during reading week to remedy this nearly school-wide problem.

As of now, the deans have decided to not add more classes, but to simply deal with the matter "on a class to class basis in a very sensitive way," said Yeshiva College Assistant Dean Joyce Jesionowski. The Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Morton Lowengrub, opted to leave the decision in the hands of the deans, who, for the moment have no plans to do anything. Yeshiva College Dean Norman Adler stated that the decision was made because not so many classes are in dire need of an official makeup date. But if it did become essential to create one, they would reconsider, he noted. Others in the administration commented that teachers already have the option of giving classes during reading week if necessary .

Yeshiva kept no formal record of how many teachers were able to make it to campus on September 11th, but logic suggests that a majority of professors could not. In fact, it would have been nearly impossible to get into Manhattan after both planes hit the World Trade Center. Even once travel was possible, some professors remained reluctant to teach, fearing that they might have had to stay overnight on the college campus.

The problem continued throughout the week, as many entry points into Manhattan were shut or had erratic schedules, causing some professors to miss as many as three classes. Staten Island residents, such as philosophy professor David Johnson, were unable to leave during most hours that whole week. Johnson missed classes on the 11th, 12th, and 13th.

While many classes were cancelled, some predict that the most deleterious effect will be to the science labs. Labs are usually given once a week, but because they can last more than two hours (especially for science majors) they are difficult to reschedule. Gail Horowitz, a chemistry lab instructor, could not make it into Yeshiva on Tuesday the 11th, and didn't "feel up to teaching" on the next day, in a response shared by many faculty and students. However, she has already taken the initiative in rescheduling her missed laboratories instead of waiting for action by the administration, as her "past experience led [her] to conclude." Other lab instructors are currently looking for ways to add another lab or simply forget about the one that was lost. None seem to be anticipating major rescheduling difficulties.

While many instructors were unable to attend classes, some professors did make heroic efforts to travel to Yeshiva and give their classes. Most notably, Rabbi Shalom Carmy, professor of Bible and Philosophy, walked most of the way up from Stern College because of public transportation cancellations. He lost most of his classes, however, due to the school wide Mincha/Tehillim rally held on the lawn in front of Rubin.

The faculty is divided in its opinion of how well the administration handled things on the day of the tragedy. Associate Professor of English Dr. Will Lee approved the school's middle-of-the-road approach, which he described as "neither 'business as usual' nor 'caving in to terrorism,'" Lee, who was already on campus before the first plane hit, conducted his class in a likewise manner: he began "by encouraging students to share their thoughts and feelings." Carmy also agreed with the position to hold classes. "Since students were on campus anyway," he pointed out, "why not meet? And the fewer classes cancelled, the fewer that need to be made up at odd times."

Other professors were far less impressed with the University's actions on September 11th. One professor said he was "disappointed" that nothing came down from the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. "Rabbi Lamm did his part, but what were they doing?" he questioned. "Twiddling their thumbs. That's when they needed to pull everyone together and they didn't." Another referred to the rally as a photo-op. Although Lee commended the decision to hold classes, he can see the other side where many of his colleagues stand, and he does agree "the university's initial message could have expressed more sympathy with victims of the tragedy."