Saturday class proposal likely dismissed, Apple says

Provost Tom Apple told Faculty Senate members Monday that his proposal for Saturday classes will most likely not move forward, but he encouraged members to continue discussions about ways to better use class time.

"I think my proposal is dead on arrival," Apple said. "But I hope the committee will look at ways and suggestions for how to better utilize the classroom."

Apple said he hoped Senate members would discuss new ways to improve attendance of Friday classes, which he attributed to student behavior on Thursday nights and a light academic load on Fridays.

"The votes are about even, it was 300 against and one for," he said. "But I hope that the spirit of my suggestions at the last meeting were taken by the committees and Faculty Senate to explore further."

On Sept. 14, Apple announced during a Faculty Senate meeting his Saturday classes proposal, which would require all classes to meet two days per week instead of following the current schedule.

Apple poked fun during yesterday's meeting at the criticism his proposal has received, drawing laughter from Senate members in attendance.

"My announcement to have Saturday classes was so popular, that if there's a Review reporter in the room today, let me propose Sunday classes," he said.

Apple had said attendance at Friday classes is lower than other days and argued that six-day class schedule including classes on Saturday would help increase attendance in Friday classes.

"Fridays are disappearing from the academic calendar," Apple said at the Sept. 14 meeting. By meeting twice a week, more pressure would be placed upon the student to attend both classes, he said.

Deputy Provost Havidán Rodríguez said late last month that the Faculty Senate is initiating preliminary conversations regarding class schedules and the effective utilization of classrooms.

"More importantly, we are focusing on new and innovative strategies to continue to increase and promote academic rigor and excellence in all the work that we do," Rodríguez said.

He said spreading out the schedule out would also alleviate overcrowding of classes during peak times of the day.

Rodríguez said classroom utilization rates earlier in the mornings and during late afternoons are considerably lower than during the middle of the day throughout the week.

Apple also proposed implementing a more intensive writing plan for students in the university's curricula. The new preliminary proposal, aimed at better preparing students to defend their arguments and write papers with good theses, would require students to take one intensive writing course per year.