One month in, students react to schedule changes
Both students and faculty express frustration with the changes and how they were made
After a month of adjusting to the new schedule, students, faculty and administrators hold strong and varying opinions on its effectiveness.
Some argue that students should have been allowed to give input on the change before the decision was made.
From students who struggle to fit in internships and research to professors who feel the learning experience has improved substantially, reactions are scattered across the board.
Although a report by the Commission on Undergraduate Education (CUE) recommended the scheduling change back in 2003, planning for the change did not start until early 2006 because of conflicting opinions within the administration, faculty and students regarding its benefits.
"There were more than a few faculty and students who felt that this change would sacrifice an aspect of Hopkins culture that had allowed their studies and research to flourish," Dean Adam Falk said.
However, he continued, "the argument was more persuasive to more people that on balance academic and social life would be improved by spreading instruction more evenly throughout the week."
Members of the Student Council expressed frustration that students were not given enough notice of potential changes, depriving them of any say in a decision that would affect them the most.
"What's unfortunate is that the administration isn't letting us know what their long term plan is," junior class president Prasanna Chandrasekhar said. "It's a shame is that we're having to continue to act retroactively."
Chandrasekhar said Student Council members first heard about the new schedule in a newspaper article, not from the administration itself.
The new schedule was first presented to faculty at the Homewood Schools Faculty Assembly meeting on April 17, 2006. According to published minutes from the meeting, several faculty members suggested that University present the idea to students to get their reaction.
Biophysics Professor George Rose noted that lengthy discussions of the schedule occurred without ever consulting student opinions. In the minutes, an unidentified professor proposed asking students for their opinion.
Some argue that students should have been allowed to give input on the change before the decision was made.
From students who struggle to fit in internships and research to professors who feel the learning experience has improved substantially, reactions are scattered across the board.
Although a report by the Commission on Undergraduate Education (CUE) recommended the scheduling change back in 2003, planning for the change did not start until early 2006 because of conflicting opinions within the administration, faculty and students regarding its benefits.
"There were more than a few faculty and students who felt that this change would sacrifice an aspect of Hopkins culture that had allowed their studies and research to flourish," Dean Adam Falk said.
However, he continued, "the argument was more persuasive to more people that on balance academic and social life would be improved by spreading instruction more evenly throughout the week."
Members of the Student Council expressed frustration that students were not given enough notice of potential changes, depriving them of any say in a decision that would affect them the most.
"What's unfortunate is that the administration isn't letting us know what their long term plan is," junior class president Prasanna Chandrasekhar said. "It's a shame is that we're having to continue to act retroactively."
Chandrasekhar said Student Council members first heard about the new schedule in a newspaper article, not from the administration itself.
The new schedule was first presented to faculty at the Homewood Schools Faculty Assembly meeting on April 17, 2006. According to published minutes from the meeting, several faculty members suggested that University present the idea to students to get their reaction.
Biophysics Professor George Rose noted that lengthy discussions of the schedule occurred without ever consulting student opinions. In the minutes, an unidentified professor proposed asking students for their opinion.
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