Lang students and faculty will retain their three-day weekends for the foreseeable future, according to an announcement by Lang administrators.
Administrators in fall 2017 floated the idea of seminar classes meeting Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday, hoping that change would give students more flexible schedules, create common hours for student or group work and use space better, according to a university spokesperson.
Students were informed of the announcement in a Monday email sent by Stephanie Browner, dean of Eugene Lang College.
“As discussions continue about how best to spread classes across the day and across the week, we will work closely with faculty and students, and make sure data is available for everyone to consider,” Browner said.
Browner emphasized how important it was “to bring good will and open minds, and good data, and good people together” in making the decision when reached for further comment.
Administrators are still trying to develop a more efficient schedule said they will continue to weigh community input.
“There is a commitment to taking into consideration faculty and students. Indeed, the entire goal is to get a schedule that allows students maximum access to courses, and to take into consideration as many variables as possible,” Browner wrote in her college-wide email.
Some were concerned about the initial proposal from last semester to hold Friday classes, saying it would be inconvenient and put additional travel pressures on students and faculty.
“The proposed schedule was tone deaf to the needs of professors and students, many of whom are handling multiple professional and family obligations, as well as health issues.” said Jan Simon, a sophomore studying history.
Students were happy about Browner’s announcement, particularly in how the administration responded to community concerns.
“I’m glad that the administration took consideration of how the bell schedule will impact the people who will have to deal with it, and decided to make a choice based off of these people” said Ariana Holley, a Lang sophomore studying interdisciplinary science.
“I think the students coming together to make their voice heard to administration is an extremely powerful thing to recognize,” said Jocelyn You, a sophomore studying culture and media.
Photo by Camille Petricola