Many University students adore their three-day weekends that start with Thursday night partying on the Street and end late Sunday evening with last-minute papers and readings.
But Princeton administrators and professors say adding more classes to Fridays could increase flexibility in scheduling, though they have no plans to add on Friday courses just yet.
"I feel Friday is an underutilized class time," said Associate Dean of the College Howard Dobin.
Around the country, however, Friday classes are happening more often. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Cornell and Syracuse universities, as well as the University of Pennylvania, have added more Friday classes to thwart Thursday night parties and three-day weekend procrastination.
Dobin said that, especially as the University considers a planned expansion of the student body by 500 undergraduates, opening up more options on Fridays eases the problem presented by more students competing for the same classes.
Dobin sees Friday classes as advantageous not only for those scheduling them, but also for students who face dilemmas when multiple classes conflict.
"Students feel a crunch for prime time courses," he said.
Faculty already have been putting classes on Fridays by themselves.
Economics professor Elizabeth Bogan said she schedules precepts for introductary economics classes — ECO 100 and 101 — on Friday at 10 and 11 a.m.
"I self-select people who really want to be in my precept," she said.
Bogan said it requires dedication to arrive at class at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, especially since ECO 101 offers 15 other precepts on other days.
Bogan said she believes classes should be held five days a week because daily attendence contributes to an "intellectual milieu" that keeps students "involved and engaged."
Bogan believes Friday classes are "debatable" by the time students reach senior year and are occupied with senior thesis research, but she considers them important "while developing a background" for independent study.
Students currently find it easy to avoid Friday classes.
"They're easier to avoid because we don't have that many offered," said Brooke Meserole '04.
Psychology professor Sam Glucksberg has scheduled a lab for PSY 101 at 9:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. on Friday.
"The Friday lab was necessary to make as many slots available for people who want to take the course," he said.
"Attendance should not be a problem, because attendance is required to pass the course. People who sign up for the Friday lab know this, so it's their choice and commitment," he added .
John Londregan, a Wilson School professor who teaches graduate-level POL 572 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. on Fridays, points out that students and faculty alike are hard at work on Friday.
"I'm perfectly happy to have classes meet on Friday. After all, when classes are in session students and faculty are hard at work on Fridays whether or not classes actually meet that day," he said.
Read More
GSG approves audit, delays budget approval after ‘insufferable’ meeting
Nikki HanThe final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
The final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
Effort to restore chapel’s pews slowly progresses
Ben GoldstonHead carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Head carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Metals, molecules, and medicine: chemical biology’s influence on health and sustainability
Aanya KaseraChemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.
Chemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.