Editor’s Note: Part I of this series (BM: 3/7/2008) focused on the current scheduling model, alterations that will begin with the fall 2008 semester, and initiatives underway to examine comprehensively the issue of class scheduling at the college.

 

The scheduling of classes shapes campus life in many ways – some obvious and others more indirect. Efficient utilization of limited facilities is certainly a big consideration, as are scheduling conflicts and planning for graduation. But campus life and vitality are also directly affected by how classes are scheduled, and for Director of First-Year Experience Margo Warden, the issue of what many regard as a four-day “suitcase college” is very much on her mind.

When Warden first came to Johnson 20 years ago, there were more Friday classes. She said at that time, the campus on Fridays was more vibrant, unlike today.

“Research shows that students who are involved, students who feel that they belong, students who are a part of the community tend to be pretty satisfied,” she said. She noted there is a shift on Thursday, from a lively campus to a far quieter one on Friday. Stretching the week, Warden felt, would energize the campus.

“This is a conversation on a lot of college campuses right now. We’re not the only one in the struggle,” she said.

For Warden, retention is also an issue. Approximately five out of ten students who begin at Johnson do not return for their next consecutive year at the school. Reasons for this include financial need, lack of academic preparedness, choosing to transfer, or simply not feeling the school was the right fit.

“That number is on a par or a little bit lower than other public schools with similar admission policies nationwide,” she said.

Twenty-question surveys are being given to members of the current freshman class to learn about the progress of their first year at Johnson. One of the questions, Warden said, would deal with what extent, if any, students have had with scheduling problems.

While she didn’t think proposed scheduling changes “will make a huge difference,” she feels whatever is done will have some impact. “Will it make a difference? I’m thinking yeah,” she said.

Jonathan Harris, president of the Student Government Association, notes that scheduling has been a recurring blip on the SGA’s radar screen and that discussion about it has been going on for close to a year.

“The SGA has not taken a specific stand on the issue, other than it’s an issue.

“Technically right now we already have classes on Fridays,” Harris said. “I think it’s not such an anomaly, as people know there are Friday classes. It’s just that because things are so tight the rest of the week, it’s assumed that there’s nothing going on on Friday, but there are a lot of other classes that use Fridays for specific things.”

Harris confirmed that a member of the faculty subcommittee did in fact contact the SGA and asked them to share what information they receive from students, such as the findings of a student services survey conducted last December.

 

“The only thing that I’m really concerned about is the perception that things are going to change too rapidly. Unpacking the schedule could help people to have more time during the week to be more involved with other things on campus, but at the same time, a lot of people really need to work,” he said.

Ironically, Harris said, the compression of the schedule allowed the SGA to utilize Fridays for meetings.
Professor of Behavioral Sciences Susan Green’s Research Methods class is to conduct a two-phase survey on student life. This is done each year in the Sociology/Anthropology course. First is a series of 75-100 interviews, which will determine what experiences are meaningful to Johnson students.

The interviews, according to Green are about “the things that are relevant, important, significant for them with regard to their success at Johnson State College. Whether or not in those interviews the curriculum will emerge as a relevant issue is really unknown at this point.”

Phase two happens in the form of an anonymous, confidential survey. This is done in order to turn the information into something that can be counted, Green said. “The questions on the survey are built from the interviews,” she explained, “so it’s not like we just sit down and randomly decide which questions to ask.”

Harris, a student in Green’s class, expected there would be some question dealing with scheduling on the Research Methods survey. He recognized that it would “undermine” the study to form questions before the interviews, but imagined that it would come up.

“Everyone talks about scheduling as an issue but there are a lot of different factors that come into play,” he said.

Green said she feels the faculty assembly subcommittee survey being conducted currently will be useful. She found the survey interesting to fill out, and also mentioned that she has heard from students that they both like the compression of the schedule and that there is difficulty in getting some courses.

“I’m really impressed at the level of interest that everyone seems to be showing in the issue. It makes me glad I work here,” Green said.

Like Margo Warden, Dean of Students David Bergh feels the issue revising the JSC scheduling model has repercussions far beyond simple logistics and that efforts to decompress the schedule are significant.

“I think that the decompression of the schedule is one of the more important initiatives that the college has pursued in several years, and if done well could have a really positive impact on the life and culture of the campus,” said Bergh.

As dean of students, Bergh’s job is to oversee non-administrative and academic areas on campus that pertain to student life. He does not feel that the current schedule is a good fit with Johnson’s student body. “I find it to be very limiting for students. It limits their options and their flexibility,” he said.

Friday classes, Bergh said, could benefit campus life. According to him, course conflicts could be reduced, more options could be available, it could “create a more vibrant campus, seven days a week,” and he said studies show that Friday classes affect Thursday night behavior.

“We’re all challenged by change, and I think that instinctually our first response is often…resistance to that change,” Bergh said. “I think that students should be excited about this because it’s really being driven by their interests, based in large part but what they’ve told us themselves.”

Bergh said that no one would be forced to take classes on Friday; it is merely one more option.

“It’s all about options,” he said.