OPINION: Eradicate Friday classes at Ohio University

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Aya Cathey is a junior studying journalism and the opinion editor at The New Political.

Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.

Switching to a four-day class week would dramatically improve the academic experiences of most students at Ohio University.

Over the last 10 years, universities across the U.S. are holding fewer classes on Fridays than on other weekdays. While the reasons vary, many cite budgetary issues, student absences, energy conservation and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic as causes for the adjustments.

Theoretically, in a four-day school week, course meetings would be more evenly distributed, as they would all meet twice a week rather than some meeting twice (Tuesdays and Thursdays) while others meet three times (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays). Many students already do not have Friday classes, as the university administration has modified course schedules in recent years. Some professors choose to cancel their Friday meetings and assign out-of-classwork as well.

Considering most universities have 30-week schedules, a shortened school week would cut 30 days of learning. Adding at least 30 minutes to each class period could account for this time. However, even with the adjustment, students will not miss a crucial learning day. 

An extra day would allow students to spend more time on extracurricular activities such as clubs. They could use their time outside of the classroom to receive internship experience or apply skillsets from their majors to leadership positions at campus organizations. For instance, a journalism major could dedicate his or her time to a student publication or an environmental sciences major could work at the Ohio University student farm or work in a research laboratory. 

Students could also take advantage of the resources offered by the school such as tutoring, advising, and peer groups. Many are aware of places like the Academic Achievement Center, the Academic Advising Center, and Counseling and Psychological Services but do not utilize them due to a lack of space in their schedules. These services can be essential in improving students' quality of life and education, but they are not adequately utilized by much of the student body. A four-day school week would help ease the stress of a packed schedule and give students the opportunity to have a well-rounded academic experience.

Additionally, most students are unaware of Ohio University's full and diverse events calendar since many events occur in the afternoon or during commonly held meeting times for organizations. If students were able to stretch their schedules a bit wider, more might make time to attend university-sponsored events. 

Lastly, giving students back an extra day in the week would be a gift to many. In all honesty, some may choose to sleep the day away, and that is OK; we need rest to be at our best. Others will use the time to do homework, prepare for the next week, exercise and focus on their health. Professors will likely see an increase in attendance and students will be more rested, present and eager to learn. Ultimately, four-day work weeks will improve the university learning environment and the well-being of the university's students and administration.