'Recapturing Fridays'
Christy Mullins
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News
Based on recent discussions among faculty, the calendar model students and faculty alike have shown concerns toward might be on its last leg.
"It looks like the 7 a.m. start option will be removed from consideration," said Cheryl Fortner-Wood, director of special projects and associate professor of psychology.
Fortner-Wood is a member of the calendar workgroup, 13 faculty and staff members who convene to talk about the pros and cons of the two proposed calendar models, one which sets the earliest start time for classes at 7 a.m. and another at 8 a.m.
Although some faculty and students felt the 7 a.m. model was appealing, Fortner-Wood said the consensus is that it seems to push evening classes too late, especially for out-of-town students.
"An important next step will be for department chairs to create a mock schedule based on the proposed guidelines," Fortner-Wood said.
Both models set classes at consistent intervals, with a two-hour block of time for meetings and other activities.
Tom Moore, vice president of academic affairs, said the "common meeting time" will allow for easier scheduling, both for students and faculty.
"The more I think about how we could use such a time, the more I see it as a great benefit to the university," Moore said.
With the West Center new to campus and other activities for students, Friday gives everyone a chance to interact, to "recapture Friday," he promoted at a discussion last week.
"It's very likely upperclass students still won't have classes on Fridays," Moore said. "The Monday-Wednesday-Friday model is majorly for lower-division classes."
Moore said departments and colleges will have opportunities to find creative solutions to course-specific issues. Art studio classes and science labs, for example, are affected by the shortened blocks of concentrated time for projects.
Other factors, such as Friday internships, service learning, student teaching and staffing were issues on the table at Friday's discussion in Tillman.
"It looks like the 7 a.m. start option will be removed from consideration," said Cheryl Fortner-Wood, director of special projects and associate professor of psychology.
Fortner-Wood is a member of the calendar workgroup, 13 faculty and staff members who convene to talk about the pros and cons of the two proposed calendar models, one which sets the earliest start time for classes at 7 a.m. and another at 8 a.m.
Although some faculty and students felt the 7 a.m. model was appealing, Fortner-Wood said the consensus is that it seems to push evening classes too late, especially for out-of-town students.
"An important next step will be for department chairs to create a mock schedule based on the proposed guidelines," Fortner-Wood said.
Both models set classes at consistent intervals, with a two-hour block of time for meetings and other activities.
Tom Moore, vice president of academic affairs, said the "common meeting time" will allow for easier scheduling, both for students and faculty.
"The more I think about how we could use such a time, the more I see it as a great benefit to the university," Moore said.
With the West Center new to campus and other activities for students, Friday gives everyone a chance to interact, to "recapture Friday," he promoted at a discussion last week.
"It's very likely upperclass students still won't have classes on Fridays," Moore said. "The Monday-Wednesday-Friday model is majorly for lower-division classes."
Moore said departments and colleges will have opportunities to find creative solutions to course-specific issues. Art studio classes and science labs, for example, are affected by the shortened blocks of concentrated time for projects.
Other factors, such as Friday internships, service learning, student teaching and staffing were issues on the table at Friday's discussion in Tillman.
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