Including more class availability at Pierce College on Fridays would not only offer students more flexibility within their hectic schedules, but an extra day of classes would create more balance on campus overall.
Walking onto campus the first few weeks of school can be a lot on its own. Stopping by the financial aid office with important documents or seeing a counselor to make sure all your ducks are lined up can be overwhelming. These last-minute campus errands, coupled with new semester anxiety, long lines and chaos in the lobby, add to students’ stress.
According to an article in Insider Higher Ed, “A lack of Friday classes is a massive under-utilization.”
Many resources go untapped because students are only on campus a few days a week, and when they are, their schedules do not allow much time for detours. Having everything crammed into just a few days can be overwhelming and emotionally taxing, especially for students. The rush to the financial aid office, admissions office or bookstore can cause significant congestion. This is not only stressful for students but can also overwhelm campus staff.
Increasing the availability of Friday classes would lead to less foot-traffic in offices, classrooms and smaller course waitlists. Not everyone has their schedule lined up perfectly at the start of the semester, leading to a lot of “Tetris” with classes due to conflicting time slots. This extra day could alleviate the pressure of prioritizing classes and prevent burnout from packing everything into two or three days.
While Pierce College offers flexibility with classes such as asynchronous or synchronous schooling, not all students benefit from taking classes in this way. A lot of students benefit more from physically walking into a class and learning in a traditional classroom setting.
Friday classes do have their pros and cons, as an article in The Hill News explains. According to the article, having ample Friday class offerings can lead to a “more evenly distributed” schedule.
Some classes are hybrid and still require students to come in person each week. For students who have part time jobs, an already packed class schedule or familial obligations, this extra day of classes can give a lot of students some room to breathe. Friday classes provide much-needed flexibility for students, according to Keystone Education Group.
Offering more Friday class options at Pierce College would relieve pressure from crowded office visits, packed classes and never-ending waitlists. For most, it would free up weekends, mornings or afternoons for work, internships or other obligations. More Friday classes would create a better balance between school and social life, benefiting students’ mental health and emotional well-being.
