After one semester on the three-credit-hour model, students are frustrated with scheduling not only classes, but other extra-curricular activities. While the university's hope for the new course model was to increase students’ ability to take more courses in a semester, many find the change challenging.
Students are now expected to take one or two additional courses per semester. A full credit load could consist of six classes. Classes start at 8 a.m. and end at 9:45 p.m. with various lengths and meeting times that overlap with other courses or activities.
For the Otterbein women’s basketball team, scheduling challenges started during fall semester and have continued into spring. Each semester, course times have eliminated practice options for several players. One of the starting seniors is unable to attend the practice before game day each week.
“Academics have always been a challenge,” said Connie Richardson, head women’s basketball coach. “It’s a challenge just in terms with us fitting our practice in everybody’s schedules.”
Last semester, Ali Cartnal, starter and senior guard, among others sacrificed time in the gym for academics.
“I had a night class, so I had to miss a few classes or leave [practice] early so I could get to my class on time,” said Cartnal. “That was stressful.”
The team chose to vary practice times to ensure as many players can attend as possible. However, when students sacrifice convenient practice times for the benefit of the team, there are consequences. Some practices have ended as late as 11 p.m.
Coaching staff and players are concerned with the team’s health. Alex Schaffer, senior forward, said she has difficulty balancing all of it.
“I never miss basketball, but I do sometimes have to stay up late, and that proves to be difficult to get that eight hours of sleep sometimes,” said Schaffer.
Though the schedule is always changing, the team has not let it stop them from making great strides on the court.
“We’ve worked it out,” said Richardson. “I might grumble a little bit, but we get over it, and we always try to keep the interest of the kids first and foremost. Yeah, it’s different, but we just adapt.”
The women's basketball team holds a 13-8 record. With several key games approaching, the team is focused on wins both on and off the court.
Weighing the cost of being a student
