By Michael Walsh
Whether initially noticed by students or not, the proposed time block rearrangement set for the spring 2011 semester will prove to be a much needed renovation to the current system at CCSU.
A common complaint heard around the CCSU campus during class registration period is often how students can’t enroll in a certain class they need to graduate because it overlaps with another one they need to graduate. This only further delays graduation and reinforces the “super senior” stigma floating around CCSU.
But with the newly proposed time block schedules, problems like this might be able to slowly dissipate.
According to an email sent to department chairs and faculty by James Mulrooney, the chair of academic standards, the new time blocks would create five additional time blocks, resulting in 755 additional scheduling opportunities for day classes each semester. Surely, this gives departments the chance to create schedules with less overlapping classes.
Whether the new actual time blocks are beneficial to a student and their schedule is a personal preference, something that will differentiate person-to-person. But what the new schedule does try to attempt is facilitate the working students, pushing 4:00 p.m. classes back to 4:30 p.m. This also hopes to eliminate the overlapping of day time classes and night classes. These subtle changes might make it easier for certain students to schedule the classes they want.
And this schedule is mostly likely going to make it easier for students who try their absolute hardest to stay off campus on Fridays. The standard Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes still remain, but there is now more of an opportunity for scheduling two-day, 75-minute classes. Also extended is the number of night blocks, which according to Mulrooney doubles in size.
Also thrown into the mix and a piece of lengthy conversation in its own regard is the newly implemented university hour. One hour each Tuesday and Thursday, likely in the 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. range, will be dedicated to having no classes being scheduled. This has the potential to increase student participation on campus. Eastern Connecticut State University already implements a university hour once a week and uses that time to schedule speakers.
It’s a certainty that people will have a difference of opinion over whether the new time blocks are an improvement, simply because no schedules are alike, especially at a school where so many students stay busy by doubling work on top of their classes.
But whether everything fits right or not, it should be agreed upon that CCSU could use an update, especially one that will potential improve the school’s graduation rate.