Let the night classes run their course Some instructors dismiss students before the designated time

VANESSA ARREDONDO Managing Editor @V_anana

It’s two hours before the campus closes for the day, and some students are still in class. They got off work not too long ago and managed to make time for their education during the 7-10:10 p.m. late-night classes slot. But some students who are taking these classes are not getting their money’s worth.

While some classes may end early, administration says that’s not in accordance to school policy.

“I am not aware that Professor X is letting their class out early,” Vice President of Academic Affairs Sheri Berger said. “Faculty, regardless of when their class is scheduled, should be in their classroom for the duration of the class.”

A 20-minute break is in included in multi-hour classes. That break should not be occurring at the beginning or end of class, Berger said. It should either be two 10-minute breaks or a break in between.

Administration becomes aware of these occurrences through the faculty evaluation process. If students complain to department chairs, they try to take action from their end, Berger said. If it’s ongoing and pervasive, the dean of that area will take disciplinary action.

Instructor of Life Sciences

Hasmik Agadjanian teaches night classes and said she almost never lets them out early because the material is intense, and less class time might affect student grades.

She said the class lost three hours this semester due to the campus evacuation.

“Now those hours are haunting us. Students are having their labs

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Moses said administration’s suggestions for the schedule are that classes wi start before 8 a.m., and none end after 10 p.m., in addition to having a possible college hour slot between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.

“We felt that the schedule created was too constrained by the objectives of the administration. It would be beneficial to have a college hour at a time when students are on campus,” Moses said.

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During the spring semester, 27 classes were offered using OER. The summer sessions will include 8 classes, and the fall will have 36.

Sometimes, the transition isn’t what stops teachers from implementing OER in their classes. Travis Orloff, the Physical Science lead, uses OER as much as he can.

“I use OER for my more lecture-based classes like in my Physical Science 6,” Orloff said. “For my labs, I use a book that is from a research group I’m a part of and the lab materials are already provided to students.” before they have the lecture,” Agadjanian said. “It’s harder for them to follow those lab instructions, so we are already behind. That’s why I don’t want to create anymore situations that would cause us to fall behind anymore.”

Christina Ramirez is a business major at Pierce and has only taken a night class due to necessity.

“It was a question of: Do I take a really late night class? Or do I leave school early in the day, but take a few more semesters to graduate,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez said the earliest her

Moses said that during a college hour, faculty and students can meet without scheduling conflicts.

“It would be an optimal time for instructors to have their office hours because they know all their students can attend,” Moses said. “Clubs and committees can attend meetings because they know there are no scheduling conflicts. It allows us to create campus-wide events.”

Dixon-Peters said this block would increase student engagement on campus, which

Orloff said OER is helpful to students and faculty. “I want to have free resources available for my students that are high in quality and just as effective,” Orloff said.

Some professors are unaware of OER and its benefits. Tom Putnam, an instructor of mathematics, hadn’t heard of the program.

“I use an online course where an access code is the only cost and the textbook comes with it,” Putnam said.

Although it isn’t zero cost, Putnam thinks it is a low cost.

“Although it is not an OER class, the student doesn’t have