Class space enough for the short term

At most universities, an A+ sends students into total elation. At Tufts, however, undergraduates wince in pain at the symbol. This is because Tufts' new block schedule includes an early A+ 8:00 _ 9:15 a.m. class time _ part of an ongoing administrative effort to make better the use of available academic space.

"There is no buffer or unused space on campus," Vice President of Operations John Roberto said, yet the University does not plan to expand in the short term.

The concern has been recognized. "There isn't a campus organization, professor, or person who wouldn't like more space," Interim Dean of Academic Affairs Paul Stanton said. But the problem is not a lack of academic space, rather it is the inefficient use of existing space, Stanton said.

Tufts' Space Management Board came to this conclusion after looking into the problem during the spring of last year.

The old block schedule was one contributor to the classroom crunch, they determined. "We figured out we had too many classes pushed into some of the blocks in the schedule," Board Member Stanton said.

The new block schedule attempts to move classes away from the peak areas and times, which were shown to be 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Under the old schedule, professor requests for classes sometimes reached 250 percent of capacity during these periods. On the other hand, demand on Friday afternoons was sometimes just ten percent of the classroom space.

While professors and most students prefer to have classes during peak periods, there needed to be a reallocation of space, Stanton said. For this semester, department chairs were asked to schedule more classes in the mornings and the evenings _ taking pressure off popular times. Administrators called the program a success, noting most classroom requests were accommodated this term.

"With the new, modified block schedule and a policy to go along with it, we've managed to spread things out a bit more," Dean of the Colleges Charles Inouye said.

Students have mixed opinions of the new block schedule, which often means hours between classes, but also being able to schedule a three day weekend. Sophomore Jason Autore, a mathematics major, has had no problems with the block schedule. "I'm still able to have all of my classes during the middle of the day. I don't think there are any advantages, but then again I also don't see any disadvantages in the schedule," he said.

Students are given some flexibility to choose the time of day which works best for them. "I don't like mornings, and try to avoid classes that are the A, B, C Block," freshman Jillian Harrison said. "Sometimes, there are required classes that you have to take early in the morning."

Science and engineering majors sometimes have to take three hour labs during the evening hours. Many Ex College and three-hour, once-a-week classes also meet during the evening.

Night-only offerings often come with their own downsides. "All of these evening classes interfere with possible employment and activities that I should have the nighttime open to pursue," freshman Lane Howlett said. "I was unable to avoid late classes even though I went into registration trying to do so."

The University also uses other measures to spread out class times, taking pressure off the space crunch. The Classroom Management Committee continuously looks at academic space across the campus and addresses those areas found to be most in need of improvement. Past projects have included this summer's complete renovation of Pearson 104, the transformation of Braker 002 into a computer lab, and the installation of televisions and VCRs into classrooms in Eaton and Olin.

These changes have worked out well for the University. "Remodeling these classrooms has a domino effect on space here," Stanton said. "It turns what was formerly the most undesirable space into the popular and that removes pressure from everyone else."

The Classroom Management Committee plans to renovate the Crane and Terrace Rooms and add seat cushions to Braker 104 during the break between semesters. A new music building, which has yet to begin construction although fundraising is nearly complete, will add to performance space.

Even with scheduling complaints, few students are willing to pay more tuition or take funds from another program in exchange for a more flexible schedule. "I feel like we pay enough already," Howlett said. "The block schedule issues are really not that big of a deal."