The Administration has proposed a new way to increase students’ chances of getting the courses they want: distribution of classes evenly over a grid of time slots throughout the week rather than giving certain slots priority. Students would be more likely to get an 8:30 a.m. or Friday afternoon class. Other changes may include clustering introductory classes in early morning slots, presuming students would enroll despite the undesirable time.
The issue has particularly affected Women’s Studies majors who will be juniors next year, because under the new system, their required class would be held at 8:30 a.m. on Fridays. Many of these students were upset, not only because of the inconvenience, but because a required course for African-American Studies majors was to be held at the same time. Those majoring in both subjects would be forced to choose.
To remedy the problem, the time slot for Feminist Theory was changed to Fridays at 11:00.
Laura Cennamo ’06, a Women’s Studies major, recounted the confusion of the change.
“They didn’t really tell us the reasoning behind it,” Cennamo said. “They just kept sending us these emails: fem theory’s changed! Fem theory’s back! It was like, ‘this class that you have to take is going to be at this time, this time or this time.’ So in the meantime, I can’t sign up for any other class.”
Cennamo was relieved to find out that, as it stands now, the class will be held at 11:00. She has mixed feelings about the overall scheduling changes.
“I think in general it’ll be a good thing, because it’s really frustrating when all the classes are at the same time,” she said. “But at the same time there’s kind of a reason for it because people are less likely to take classes at certain times.”
Sarah Elgart ’07, who has taken mostly science courses, was optimistic about the modified schedule.
“I think it’s more likely to be successful [than the system currently in place], although I haven’t had too many conflicts with classes being at the same time. Generally they schedule things [with students’ requirements in mind],” Elgart said. “For instance, they never have physics, chemistry, and biology at the same time, and all biology classes are usually at the same time because you’re not going to be taking, say, 205 and 207 in the same semester.”
Zack Kagan-Guthrie ’05 said he has mixed feelings, and that the new course changes may be the wrong approach.
“The most salient reaction of everyone I’ve talked to is that this ‘solution’ is a drop in the bucket; hiring more professors is the only solution, and that is what the administration needs to do, instead of finding these minor band-aid solutions that might even exacerbate the problem,” Kagan-Guthrie said.
Kagan-Guthrie further stated he believed the changes might even be counterproductive.
“I think that they might help somewhat, but they also might make things worse,” Kagan-Guthrie said. “The rationale is that this will allow students to avoid times that conflict with one another, but if classes are shifted into times that students are determined to avoid, then there will be more intense competition for the good classes in the few remaining good time slots.”
Elgart was not bothered by the prospect of having to get up early for class.
“I’m kind of an early morning person, so I don’t have a problem with those classes. 8:30’s pushing it, but 9:00 I’m completely comfortable with,” she said.
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