Provost letter-What's going on?

<p>Daughter received letter from Provost tonight about major changes in students’ schedules in the Fall where it appears 2 to 2.5 hour classes are at night??? All the studio art classes are
2 to 2.5 hours. My daughter did not sign up to go to a night school. Will all the studio art classes now be at night??? Very worried at this point!!</p>

<p>This is very upsetting. How will my daughter graduate on time if only a few 2.5hr classes are only offered Wednesday??? The rest at night??? What is going on.? Was this scheduling change thought out in regards to studio art classes? She didn’t attend AU to go to mostly late night classes up to 10:40 p.m. This is absurd!!! Will the Katzen Center be empty during the day???</p>

<p>This is absolutely not what we signed up for. Yet another nightmare.</p>

<p>Have her transfer out of this hellish nightmare! Please!</p>

<p>Gee, hasn’t your D had to take any labs or seminars on Wednesdays?</p>

<p>I’m so sorry the new schedule will have a negative effect on your daughter’s social life. Actually, isn’t she already working evenings in the very same building and studios in which she might have to take an occasional evening class? All the art majors I know seem to live in their studios and resent having to go to the library to study for mundane classes in chemistry or anthropology.</p>

<p>Although having junior status, if your darling D has made adequate academic progress, your daughter should have absolutely no problem getting her classes at whatever time she wants them.</p>

<p>As a result of extensive consultation with academic leadership, the Faculty Senate, student leaders, and the administration, effective for the Fall 2011 semester, American University will implement changes to the Schedule of Classes. These changes affect both day and evening class times to provide greater choice across the schedule.</p>

<p>The new daytime schedule will have seven available class time slots instead of the current six. The first time slot will begin at 7:30 a.m. and will be used infrequently for undergraduate course offerings. This time slot is intended primarily for graduate and professional students or those with special scheduling needs who may find advantages in taking early morning courses. The high utilization period for daytime class scheduling will begin at 8:55 a.m. and will end at 5:15 p.m. In addition, the current forty minute gap between daytime and evening classes would be reduced to fifteen minutes. These changes will create greater opportunities for course offerings throughout the day and will maximize classroom usage. </p>

<p>The revised evening schedule accommodates primarily graduate classes that are either two or two and a half – hours, depending on the particular course offering. The current unblocked evening schedule that is customarily used for undergraduate course offerings remains unchanged.</p>

<p>Please contact the Office of the University Registrar at <a href=“mailto:our@american.edu”>our@american.edu</a> with any question that you might have regarding the revised class schedule that will go into effect in the Fall 2011 semester.</p>

<ol>
<li>Fall 2011 Daytime Schedules </li>
</ol>

<p>A. Monday/Thursday, Tuesday/Friday schedule</p>

<p>7:30-8:45 a.m.
8:55-10:10 a.m.
10:20-11:35 a.m.
11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
1:10-2:25 p.m.
2:35-3:50 p.m.
4:00-5:15 p.m.</p>

<p>B. Wednesday </p>

<p>8:55-11:35 a.m.
11:45-2:25 p.m.
2:35-5:15 p.m.</p>

<ol>
<li>Fall 2011 Evening Schedules </li>
</ol>

<p>A. Blocked schedule</p>

<p>2.5 hour classes – 5:30-8:00 p.m. and 8:10-10:40 p.m.
2 hour classes – 6:00-8:00 p.m. and 8:10-10:10 p.m.</p>

<p>B. Unblocked schedule (primarily undergraduate courses)
5:20 – 6:35 p.m.
6:45-8:00 p.m.
8:10-9:25 p.m.</p>

<p>This is really the only reason I get frustrated with moms on the forums. Perfectly fine with ones who are interested in researching or maybe helping their kid decide between X and Y. But why is it that a mom needs to get this involved with their 20-21 year old ADULT? I am genuinely curious. What is it that you plan to do when your daughter needs to get a job? Better yet, when they have a job? Will you be complaining about the employers every move? Will you be calling HR when your daughter’s hours get extended?</p>

<p>Now on to point. Night classes really are no big deal. Ask any science major. It’s not uncommon to have a lab that goes to 7 or 8, even 9 at night. God forbid you have to do something academic in the evening.</p>

<p>From what I can tell, it seems that re-jiggering the schedule to add an additional class period per day works to the students’ advantage because they will have fewer conflicts with classes they want being offered at the same time.</p>

<p>All in all, a good move by the AU administration.</p>