I think there have been a lot of interesting and constructive comments. I would like to add that more flexibility for faculty scheduling (which I am all for!) may result in less flexibility in scheduling for many students as we move away from standardized time patterns. Also, there could be a large increase in students asking to be allowed to enroll in classes with miscellaneous amounts of overlap. Paul Paul A. French Associate Professor and Chair, Physics and Astronomy Department SUNY College at Oneonta Room 120 E, Physical Science Building Oneonta, NY 13820 607-436-3358 607-436-2654 (fax) -----Original Message----- From: Teaching Breakfast List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Janet Nepkie Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 9:12 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: class scheduling Hello, TBers The comments from Geoff are particularly helpful because they reflect student needs regarding scheduling. It seems to me that the bottom line for scheduling should be whether a college is meeting the needs of its students. At SUNY Oneonta, we have significantly raised the "selectivity" numbers of entering freshmen in recent years and we are turning away more students than we accept. While we have many areas where we need to improve, it's also a fact that much of what we're doing is demonstrably better than it has been in previous years. It's possible, therefore, that our current system of scheduling is one of the positive aspects of our campus. Does anyone know which of our College Senate committees might be charged with looking at college schedules as a factor in academic achievement? Thanks Janet Dr. Janet Nepkie Professor of Music and Music Industry Music Department State University College Oneonta, New York 13820 tele (607) 436 3425 fax 607 436 2718 ---------- From: Teaching Breakfast List on behalf of Jim Greenberg Reply To: Teaching Breakfast List Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 7:32 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: FW: class scheduling This posting is from Geoff Davis, forwarded to the list by Jim Greenberg Let throw my two cents in here as a part-time adjunct (yes, I know that is a redundant title) and parent of two college kids attending two different SUNY schools. First, as an adjunct, I need flexibility in my teaching schedule because I am working other jobs off campus that also require my attention. The inability to teach a Monday-Wednesday or Wednesday-Friday class that meets for the hour and fifteen minutes each session has caused problems for me from time-to-time. Because of this I have had to change my day class schedule to Tuesday and Thursday for the next two semesters. The result is that I am on campus less and also makes it difficult for my students to make up classes they miss due to illness or club/team activities. My son attends Albany and my daughter is at Purchase. Albany is so large that if there is a pattern of when classes are offered I haven't been able to figure it out the past four years. What I do know is that my son has had considerable flexibility in determining the days and times of when he is in class. At Purchase my daughter has not had classes on Friday the three semesters she has been there. Her impression is that because most faculty and a significant number of students commute through horrendous traffic that they selected Friday as a no class or limited class day. Also, most of her courses are four credits and meet at least two hours each session twice a week. If the figure of aboiut 40% of our faculty are adjunct, and therefore part-time, is correct then that need also has to be taken into consideration when looking at a class schedule. I vote for more flexibility. Regards - Geoff Davis