Earlier classes, longer breaks draw mixed reactions

Upon the start of a new academic year, changes in the class schedule and timetable were implemented in the University.

Last November, the institution’s  Academics Council approved a revised class schedule with the first hour of classes beginning at 7:30 in the morning. These classes were mostly offered to freshman blocks. The new time slots still retain a length of an hour and a half, but the intervals between classes have increased to 15 minutes from the previous 10-minute break.

Breaks too long, classes start too early

Students and professors have expressed mostly assent to the changes in schedules implemented starting May 21 this academic year. Many have stated that the additional five minutes added to the interval between two classes proves to be of help when moving from one class to the next, particularly in cases where a student’s next class is located in another building.

“The 15-minute break is more appreciated [by people who have] classes in Andrew building,” Department of Literature professor Tanya Simon states, giving a case in point, elaborating that it takes more than ten minutes to transfer from the 21-floor building to any point in the main campus area.

Students have generally expressed the same view, but some have also pointed out the negative effects of the new interval’s bearing on free cuts. “The day may become longer because of the 15-minute breaks. If there’s a free cut, I’d have no classes for two hours,” Pat Miranda (II, LIM-BSA) points out.

Regarding the earlier start of classes, students who opted to take 7:30 a.m. classes have noticed faster travel time to the University in the earlier hours of the morning. Students have voiced out that commuting during mornings has become faster because there is less traffic around the area.

On the other hand, some students have expressed a conflicting view, stating that because of the 7:30 AM classes offered by the University, come the start of classes for other universities, there will be heavier traffic around the premises, particularly along Taft Avenue.

“We’re going to coincide with the schedule of other schools, so it’s going to be hard to commute,” Alyssa Cruz (II, PHM) says in Filipino. Other institutions located on Taft Avenue, like Adamson University, have classes which start as early as 7:00 in the morning.

Those who take the trains going to school would have to truce it out with colleges located along or near train stations. For those using the LRT2, Lasallians will cross paths with students from the likes of the University of the East and Ateneo de Manila University, both of which offer classes that start at 7:00 in the morning. While for those who take the MRT going to school every day, they have to join the first wave of rush hour commuters on their way to their workplaces in Cubao or in Makati.

A faculty member also confirms that there were no consultations made with the different University stakeholders with regards to the new class schedule. The professor adds that he and his teaching colleagues were all surprised when they received their department plantilla, or class assignments, during last term’s enrollment.

He also mentions the faculty sector is mostly concerned of the rise in student tardiness and absences in the long-run. “Students frequently arrive late in their 8:00 AM classes, what more now that the first class offered during the day is at 7:30 AM,” he tells.

In retrospect

In the past decade, there were two other instances where the University administration decided to change the class schedule and timetable of DLSU. Three years ago, the University implemented the Rationalized Classroom Utilization Scheme (RCU). The scheme entailed a 6-day class week, including Saturdays, and a University break scheduled on Wednesdays, from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

In the September 2011 issue of The LaSallian, it was reported that the RCU was designed to primarily address the increasing student density in the University, given the limited campus space. During the RCU implementation, the retrofitting of St. La Salle Hall and construction of the Henry Sy Sr. Hall were still ongoing.

Most of the concurrence towards the implemented scheme came from student organizations, which had a difficult time scheduling activities for their members. Extra-curricular activities also came into conflict with academic schedules. The RCU was only implemented for one academic year.

Before the four-day class schedule currently in place, the University once required Lasallians to come to school five times a week. Each class lasted an hour, with the earliest class starting at 7:00 in the morning. Students were allowed to have 10-minute breaks in between classes.

Between the two times the University shifted to a different academic schedule, the latter example could be closely compared with the new academic schedule implemented beginning this academic year.

Don Eric Sta. Rosa (AB-ISE, 2006) shares he did not have any problems going to school as early as 7:00 in the morning. “Traffic was lighter and it was easier to park whenever I had to bring a car to school, since my batch mates would usually opt to enroll in later classes,” he says.

Fritz Dalida (BS-BIO, 2010) shares the same sentiments with Sta. Rosa. He thinks students are physiologically more productive during classes early in the morning since they just came from rest. Dalida sees being unable to conduct last minute reviews for exams as the only disadvantage if students enroll in early morning classes.

Dalida was able to experience both the five-day class schedule, with classes starting at 7:00 AM and the four-day class schedule, with classes starting at 8:00 AM, when he was still an undergraduate. The four-day class schedule was implemented starting academic year 2007-2008.

Department of International Studies professor Aljames Untalan is not surprised with the sudden changes in class schedule. “The decision to add five minutes in between classes does not shake the status quo much as compared to the more drastic schedule changes implemented in the past. I experienced the MWF-TH schedule when I was a student. Before graduating, the schedule was changed to MF-TH. When I started teaching, the schedule was MH-TF-WS before it was brought back to MF-TH,” Untalan shares.

University President and Chancellor Ricky Laguda FSC reveals that the administration is yet to determine the long-term viability of the earlier class schedule and longer breaks. He confirms that by July, there will be a final decision on the permanency of the new schedule.

Untalan reminds students that they should not let the changes in academic schedule hamper their spirits and determination to do well in their classes. “Students who are really willing to learn would do anything to come to class on-time, regardless of the schedule,” the professor ends.