Megan Dorsey isn’t a big fan of her morning routine.
The Weinberg freshman usually rolls out of bed at 7:30 a.m. and runs off to class wearing her pajamas. After her early-morning Organic Chemistry class finishes, Dorsey returns to her dorm, showers and prepares for her day. If she didn’t live close to the Technological Institute, she would be even less motivated to attend her daily 8 a.m. class, she said.
At Pennsylvania State University, administrators are planning to ease the burden on students who, like Dorsey, are forced to take early morning classes. Penn State officials have started reducing the number of 8 a.m. classes while offering more late-morning, afternoon and evening courses, university spokeswoman Amy Neil said.
“We are hopeful that (if we become) more student centered through class scheduling, that student classroom attendance, motivation and alertness will improve,” Neil wrote in an e-mail.
Michigan State University researchers have found evidence supporting complaints that early morning classes are a tough learning environment. The university’s 2002 National Collegiate Health Assessment survey reports that sleep abnormalities affect the grades of 23 percent of the university’s students. Attributing some of the irregular sleep habits to morning classes, Michigan State’s student government has begun discussing legislation that would limit 8 a.m. courses.
Northwestern has no plans to eliminate 8 a.m. classes, but it doesn’t offer as many early classes as it did in the past, said University Registrar Suzanne Anderson. There are only 14 classes offered at 8 a.m. Winter Quarter, compared with 192 courses taught at 10 a.m.
Anderson said most NU students sign up for classes between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., calling those hours “standard prime time.” The Registrar’s Office schedules some early courses because of the limited space to hold classes across campus, Anderson said. If a large lecture hall is filled at a peak time, another class requiring the room might be moved to a less popular time, she said.
Early morning classes at NU have different success rates in attracting students. The 8 a.m. section of Organic Chemistry for Spring Quarter has 21 openings, while the 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. sections are full. Fewer students show up for the 8 a.m. class as well, chemistry Prof. Sonbinh Nguyen said.
“The ones that show up, show up consistently,” he said. “They learn to go to sleep and to go to sleep early.”
But Nguyen said he understands students’ desire to register for later classes.
“I wouldn’t mind teaching at 9 or 10,” Nguyen said. “Frankly, I don’t like waking up that early either.”
In contrast, Medill Prof. David Abrahamson’s 15-person Literary Journalism class filled so quickly for Spring Quarter that 18 students e-mailed him hoping to add into the class, he said.
“It is in unusual demand, despite that it starts at 8 a.m.,” Abrahamson said.
Julie Kim said she agrees with Penn State’s idea and understands why later classes are more popular.
“I think it’s a pretty smart decision,” said Kim, a Weinberg sophomore. “As long as the courses are still offered, you generally wouldn’t lose as many students as you might gain if you put that class at a later time.”
Jay Sarthy said he focuses on registering for distribution requirements and doesn’t look at times.
“I have to take certain classes to finish up my major so I have to work around those,” said Sarthy, a Weinberg senior.
