A new Tuesday/Thursday class schedule is coming fall 2020.

By Michael Lehman, Editor-in-Chief

Huntington University’s Tuesday and Thursday chapel services will move from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. starting this fall semester. The time change is a byproduct of a new Tuesday/Thursday class schedule.

There will no longer be morning classes from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Instead, there will be two 75-minute time slots for morning classes: one from 8 to 9:15 a.m. and one from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. 

Delaying chapel will allow a new morning time slot for three-hour courses and labs from 8 to 10:45 a.m. Vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty Luke Fetters said that he is implementing these changes to enhance the overall flexibility of the Tuesday/Thursday class schedule.

“The discussion technically was never about the chapel time change,” Fetters said. “The prime motivator was to streamline the weekly schedule so that we can make courses more evenly available for students so that we have fewer conflicts.”

Classes will resume directly after chapel. The first 75-minute time slot will be from 12 to 1:15 p.m.

According to Fetters, it is unknown if these changes will impact lunch hours at the dining commons. Lunch, which is currently available at 11 a.m., might not be available until 12 p.m. next semester to encourage student participation in chapel.

This is the first time the class schedule has changed since 1985. 

Fetters started exploring the new Tuesday/Thursday schedule with faculty and student groups last semester. He met with campus ministries, department chairs and others within the university’s administration. He also hosted a talkback with professors.

To receive input from students, Fetters consulted with the academic concerns committee (ACC) of the student government association (SGA). 

“Basically, we were just kept in the loop, and Fetters met with ACC to get SGA’s opinion and give us the full rundown of what is happening,” said Hannah Schonfeld, vice president of SGA. 

At an SGA meeting on Nov. 20 of last year, student representatives expressed general support for the changes but voiced some concern for how it might impact mealtime opportunities for students. More information about next semester’s lunch schedule will be available soon.

Advising for the fall 2020 semester begins on March 23, the Monday after spring break.