Gas is pushing the $4 mark across the country. Coupled with a recessed economy, many universities have opted to switch to a four-day week to ease expenses and help students and faculty who commute to classes.
Texas A&M University-Commerce is currently in the planning stages to switch from a Monday through Friday schedule to a four-day week.
“It is evident the cost of gasoline and the subsequent effect on the economy has impacted our enrollment this semester,” Mary Hendrix, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, said. “We believe we need to be proactive in this cause and effect.”
According to Hendrix, the University is interested in meeting the needs of today’s students, and understands that a traditional Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Tuesday-Thursday schedule may no longer be the most appropriate format for delivery.
Because A&M-Commerce has not determined what the specific changes to scheduling will be, Hendrix is interested in receiving feedback from students and faculty on their views about a four-day week.
“I think students appreciate having an opportunity for input and for shaping the university the way that they want us to be,” Hendrix said.
Pre-med major Brad McNeal, who commutes to classes everyday from Roxton, welcomes the change to a four-day week.
“I miss [having classes Monday through Thursday],” said McNeal. “The three-day weekend gives you a chance to really wind down, and I had more time to write lab reports for class.”
According to McNeal, some semesters at A&M-Commerce, he is only able take two or three classes for his major because of schedule conflicts, and spends more time driving than in class.
“I drive an hour and a half each way, and only spend 50 minutes in class,” McNeal said.
Art student Braxton Tinsley has mixed feelings about the switch to a four-day week.
“Some art professionals can only come to campus [as guest lecturers] on certain days of the week,” Tinsley said. “If the days they come to campus are cut, then the lectures would have to [be cut as well or switch the dates].”
Tinsley believes that if the day the University chooses to cut from schedules falls in the middle of the week, that many first-year students will try to go home on that day and there will be more tardies and absences on the following day.
“Having a day off in the middle of the week is like having two weekends – you don’t have enough time to wind down before classes start again,” McNeal said.
A&M-Commerce has yet to decide which day would be eliminated from the schedule, according to Hendrix.
“We realize many of our students commute, work and care for family members,” Hendrix said. “We may determine that a four-day week is not the most appropriate [resolution] either, but we will be providing different models that meet the Coordinating Board’s guidelines and allow our students to help guide us.”
The four-day week is projected to be in place as early as the spring semester, Hendrix said.