Different class hours for the third term

It is pushing through – pilot testing for the proposed standardization of class hours, in light of the transformative learning system DLSU has adopted two years ago, will begin in the third term this school year. This would mean the implementation of the four-day class week, as considered by the administration during the past few terms.

Academics vice president Nicole Villarojo, in a letter to the student body, explained that there is also a belief across most of the faculty that “learning in the classroom may be furthered given a 1.5 hour class period.” This was also a major consideration for the plan, aside from the saving the school would incur in operational expenses such as utilities.

There will be a press conference open to all students within this term, headed by academics assistant vice chancellor Agnes Yuhico.

Under the new schedule, the current time slots for Tuesday-Thursday classes will be followed for all school days. Classes will either be on Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesday and Thursdays, with time slots from 08.00-09.30, 09.40-11.10, 11.20-12.50, 13.00-14.30, 14.40-16.10, 16-20-17.50, 18.00-19.30, and 19.40-21.10. Fridays will be considered as an extra day for lectures, especially for classes that require longer time periods, such as laboratory classes for COE, COS, CCS and CLA classes under the Department of Communication.

The time slots might, however, not apply to PE and science laboratory classes, according to FAST 2005 Legislative Assembly representative Carlo Cruz.

The new set-up also gives way to a longer U-Break on Fridays, from 14.30 to 18.00, in which no make-up classes can be arranged.

Saturdays will also adopt the proposed time periods, with a different system for graduate students. That is yet to be announced.

If this system works, the administration may stick with it. Consultations will be conducted by the Student Council’s batch units with regards to the implementation of the plan, according to Villarojo.

Carmel Puertollano is the contentact for this article. Click here to see the Nicole Villarojo’s letter with regards to the four-day class week.