A breakdown of President Donald Gerth’s hybrid schedule plans for fall 2002:

Policy: Monday-Wednesday-Friday classes from 9 a.m. to noon will run 50 minutes per session.

Why it will work: Might create enrollment spillover to Friday three-hour block classes. Should encourage departments to schedule core classes in Friday three-hour block sessions. More bodies in school on Friday could up quality of campus life, a point ASI emphasized. Avoids ambiguities that might have snagged other, more complicated plans. Adds a time slot to the 9 a.m. to noon block.

Why it won?t work: Could create a problem for students with lab class conflicts on Fridays. No guarantee Friday three-hour block core classes will be on the schedule. Shoots a hole in the middle of the morning for students used to working a full day on Friday. Adds an extra commute day. Effects on parking uncertain. Students will need skates to get from Shasta Hall to Tahoe Hall in 10 minutes. Will probably prompt students to flock in greater numbers to Tuesday-Thursday classes where profs will have to “just say no” to desperate students? pleas to add.

Policy: Hybrid schedule keeps flexible options outside of Monday-Wednesday-Friday 9 a.m. to noon slots. Deans “remain responsible for the oversight of scheduling with the colleges.”

Why it will work: May still be possible to enroll in Monday-Wednesday, Tuesday-Thursday classes and avoid Fridays completely. Should prompt department chairs and deans to schedule more classes outside of the MWF peak hours to preserve four-day week.

Why it won?t work: Could simply shift classroom shortage to later in the day by creating a new set of “prime time” hours from, say, noon to 4 p.m. If more core classes migrate to afternoon slots, part time afternoon jobs will conflict. And most deans seem to want to avoid policing department schedules in favor of being police chief. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Policy: V.P. of Academic Affairs to establish a university work group of administrators, faculty and students to monitor the effect of schedule policy on student access and facility use.

Why it will work: Gets schedule and facility use issues off autopilot and puts someone behind the wheel. Diverse representation should guarantee future moves won?t provoke student/faculty backlash. Removes the lightening rod of criticism from the president?s office and spreads the credit or blame for future moves.

Why it won?t work: Work group is strictly an advisory committee, and can be overruled by deans or Gerth. Composition of group could make it a giant rubber stamp if populated with members looking to appease the president. Anybody remember September?s Gang of Seven that rushed through Gerth?s first plan?