Some of the lessons learned in college are learned beyond the walls of a classroom.
For example, there's no class about how to trot across lanes of traffic while listening to an iPod or talking on a cell phone, but we all may as well minor in it, along with jaywalking.
Students also learn how they learn while in college. Some prefer 50-minute quick-hit classes in rapid succession, and others need longer class periods to adequately absorb the information presented.
Students have been able to decide what format is best for them, their lives and their learning styles. Now the university is evaluating how much and on what days buildings are used and if there are ways to increase the level of efficiency.
One suggestion to increase campuswide building use is to have more classes meet three times a week for 50 minutes as opposed to twice a week for 75 minutes.
We understand having class three days a week means more classrooms will be in use on Fridays, but it's not actually increasing how much the building is used in general. A three-hour credit course will still meet for three hours, whether those hours are on two or three days.
Academically, it's more difficult to have class discussions and get in-depth with higher level classes if only 50 minutes are available in class each day.
Limiting 75 minute classes also creates obstacles for students and professors who commute, work or need to arrange care for children while away at class. Previously students or faculty with children could have arranged to have class on two days a week and limit their need for day care. However, by having class three days a week it becomes more difficult to arrange care for children.
The university needs to take students and professors into account when making decisions about changing class formats from two to three days a week.
The official reason for looking at changing how buildings are used is to prove to legislatures that we need more facilities.
If the university has to change how it has been operating in order to get a new building, maybe we don't really need the new building and should just use what we have to its fullest potential. In these trying economic times, everyone has to compromise.
If it's not broken, don't fix it.
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