2008 Woodie Awards
Administration delays addition of 8 a.m. classes
Dave Matthews
Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: Campus
The proposal to increase the number of Friday morning classes by 30 percent by the fall of 2008 will more than likely be delayed by one year, according to Miami University Registrar Dave Sauter.
"This year is devoted to taking a closer look at when classes are offered, and raising awareness for the even spread of Tuesday, Thursday and Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes," Sautar said.
As of this week, Sauter has developed four potential model time grids for the future, but extra time will need to be taken when considering complicated time blocks for classes such as lab hours for architecture, art and music students. Holidays will also play a role in looking at time grids for scheduling.
For the 2006-07 academic year, Sauter said there are 39 available time blocks for classes and he is currently listening to divisions and departments to get an idea of modified time blocks.
Last fall, 57 percent of classes met on the Monday, Wednesday and Friday slots while 43 percent met on the Tuesday and Thursday slots.
Of those 1,056 classes that met Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 83 percent - or 871 classes - had a Friday meeting.
"There's no way we can add 30 percent on top of that," Sauter said. "The old time blocks won't work for the future."
As a result, Sauter said that Miami students will probably see more 75-minute sections either Wednesdays and Fridays, or Mondays and Fridays.
Melonia Bennett, secretary for academic affairs for Associated Student Government (ASG), said if there is an increase in Wednesday and Friday classes, holiday vacations, such as Thanksgiving break, may become harder to schedule around.
"You have to make sure class meets for the prescribed number of hours per week," Bennett said. "The scheduling grid is very complex."
Sauter said that he agrees with the provost office's previous statements in that no changes will occur before the fall of 2008. Sauter says it's not feasible because the new Farmer School of Business building won't open until January 2009, and the university will need to know how that building can capacitate classes.
"So, the first significant changes won't happen until fall of '09 probably," Sauter said. "Which isn't that far away in registrar jargon."
The proposal to increase the number of Friday morning classes is only one of 41 in former President James Garland's Task Force on Alcohol Abuse Prevention, or the Garland Initiative. However this is just "one very small step" in that process, Bennett said. Sauter agreed.
"If you look at (the Garland Initiative) in totality and have a better (schedule) of classes, there will be a major cultural shift concerning alcohol abuse," Sauter said. "If there are only two classes and one is on Friday, I can guarantee that attendance will be up."
"This year is devoted to taking a closer look at when classes are offered, and raising awareness for the even spread of Tuesday, Thursday and Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes," Sautar said.
As of this week, Sauter has developed four potential model time grids for the future, but extra time will need to be taken when considering complicated time blocks for classes such as lab hours for architecture, art and music students. Holidays will also play a role in looking at time grids for scheduling.
For the 2006-07 academic year, Sauter said there are 39 available time blocks for classes and he is currently listening to divisions and departments to get an idea of modified time blocks.
Last fall, 57 percent of classes met on the Monday, Wednesday and Friday slots while 43 percent met on the Tuesday and Thursday slots.
Of those 1,056 classes that met Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 83 percent - or 871 classes - had a Friday meeting.
"There's no way we can add 30 percent on top of that," Sauter said. "The old time blocks won't work for the future."
As a result, Sauter said that Miami students will probably see more 75-minute sections either Wednesdays and Fridays, or Mondays and Fridays.
Melonia Bennett, secretary for academic affairs for Associated Student Government (ASG), said if there is an increase in Wednesday and Friday classes, holiday vacations, such as Thanksgiving break, may become harder to schedule around.
"You have to make sure class meets for the prescribed number of hours per week," Bennett said. "The scheduling grid is very complex."
Sauter said that he agrees with the provost office's previous statements in that no changes will occur before the fall of 2008. Sauter says it's not feasible because the new Farmer School of Business building won't open until January 2009, and the university will need to know how that building can capacitate classes.
"So, the first significant changes won't happen until fall of '09 probably," Sauter said. "Which isn't that far away in registrar jargon."
The proposal to increase the number of Friday morning classes is only one of 41 in former President James Garland's Task Force on Alcohol Abuse Prevention, or the Garland Initiative. However this is just "one very small step" in that process, Bennett said. Sauter agreed.
"If you look at (the Garland Initiative) in totality and have a better (schedule) of classes, there will be a major cultural shift concerning alcohol abuse," Sauter said. "If there are only two classes and one is on Friday, I can guarantee that attendance will be up."
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