The registration committee has changed the times for turbos, prompting mixed reactions from both students and faculty.
Academic Vice President Orin Grossman said, ‘The issue of once a week courses has been discussed by a committee of administrators and faculty members working with the registrar and there was general agreement that the number of time codes available for these courses needed to be limited for several reasons such as the way these courses block students from a number of other time codes.’
The turbos interfered with spacing issues for classrooms during daytime class hours.
‘These changes were done because many turbos conflicted with regular prime-time classes,’ said Robert Russo, of the Registrar office. ‘It also cut down on classrooms that we could schedule classes in.’ Last semester we had to make 26 changes, but this semester only three changes.’
But not all students are happy about the changes.
‘I’ve never had a turbo conflict with another class I want to take and I don’t think it’s fair to make me take an 8 a.m. turbo,’ said Monique Gordon ’10. She pointed out that old turbo times might have only created conflict for freshmen who often take several 50 minute classes, such as language classes.
James Simon,’ chair’ of’ the’ English’ Department and one of the faculty members on the administration committee that proposed changed to the registration process,’ said’ many English faculty members were unhappy that the turbo time codes had changed.
‘Our faculty feels that the primary issue should be how to best teach the student, and the school should work hard to find enough available classrooms if we decide turbos are the most effective method. But we understand the shortage of classroom space on campus, and we worked hard to comply,’ said Simon.
The special permission night turbos were not altered since they do not conflict with other class schedules.’
A third turbo class was also added on Wednesday since it is the day of fewest classes. The majority of Arts and Sciences turbos will be taught on Wednesdays, with 10 classes at 11:00 a.m. and 19 classes at 2:00 p.m.’ ‘This change will stimulate more classes on Wednesdays,’ said Russo.’
However, English Prof. Jacqueline Rinaldi predicts that it will be difficult for professors to get one’ of’ the’ two’ desirable’ but’ highly’ competitive’ 11:00 a.m.’ or’ 2:00′ p.m. Wednesday’ slots’ and they will be forced to teach at inconvenient times.’
Rinaldi said that the 5 p.m. turbo may be difficult for some students, so she plans to use web-enhanced alternatives when possible to ease class conflicts.
FUSA President Jeff Seiser explained that groundwork for these changes was done last year from input gathered by students and faculty and the changes are now being shown.’
‘There are a lot of different reasons as to why we’ve done this to help students,’ said Seiser.’ ‘It will allow students more options so a turbo at 10 a.m. won’t overlap with 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 12 p.m. time codes.” ‘
Dina Franceschi, who will co-teach the senior international studies capstone course next semester with Terry Ann Jones, said that the new turbo times gave the professors flexibility in finding a time that would work with their schedules ‘since neither’ of’ us’ naturally picks’ 8 a.m.’ to’ teach’ at’ regularly’ anyway.’
Franceschi said that the response had been mixed, but she was not sure seniors would react.
Some seniors are unhappy with the early morning turbos they may be forced to take.
‘No way, an 8 a.m. Monday morning turbo for our most important college paper!’ said Katie Phelan ’09, an international studies major who will enroll in the capstone course next semester.
Janet Krauss, professor of creative writing, said it is important her class be taught in a two-and-a-half hour class period so everyone can be heard and critiqued.’ But she hasn’t always been satisfied with the classrooms she has been given.
‘I had one in the basement of Bannow once,’ she said. The windows in Bannow look like a prison and it’s far away from my office, especially in bad weather.’
Bernard Daraz ’11, a student in Krauss’ class said, ‘I think that streamlining the times of the turbos is probably a good idea. Although I have to object to not only turbos at 8 a.m., but any class at 8 a.m. – its just not possible for me to be conscious, let alone alert, at that time.’
‘Seniors aren’t going to want to wake up at 8 a.m. on Friday for a turbo, especially if they go out on Thursday,’ said Daniel Arroyo ’09.
‘It might be a good way to integrate seniors into the real world, having to wake up and be at work for 8 a.m., but I think we would rather wait to get that reality check.’
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