Thursday, July 16, 2009

Markets in Everything: College Classes at Midnight

CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION -- At a time of night when many people are hitting the sack, a number of Bunker Hill Community College students will be hitting the classroom this fall. To accommodate working adults and open more class times for its growing student population, the Massachusetts college will offer two courses that run from 11:45 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.: “Principles of Psychology,” on Tuesdays, and “College Writing I,” on Thursdays. Both are three-credit courses.

College officials chose the midnight time slot for people who get off work late and have to be up early with their children. (Which makes you wonder if sleep deprivation will be among the topics covered in the psych course.) Like many community colleges during the recession, Bunker Hill has seen record enrollments as people return to college to advance their education. The burgeoning enrollment has filled all available classrooms during the college’s normal seven-day schedule.

3 Comments:

At 7/16/2009 5:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I bet that does not work out very well. My students are pretty much useless after 9 PM in my 6-10 PM class (and, to tell the truth, so am I).

 
At 7/16/2009 6:23 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've taught a 6 - 10pm class and I would agree that the class isn't as good after about 8:30.

 
At 7/16/2009 7:45 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have a hard time believing there will be enough demand for these sections. I do wonder whether they are having to pay the professors a premium. It's interesting they chose psychology and english...PhD holders in those disciplines have an incredibly difficult time finding a teaching job so perhaps it will be economical.

I agree with Walt. It's hard to believe that it will work well. Shifts like these have been around for awhile...it would seem like if there was a market then a community college would have entered it already.

 

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