TECH MIGHT EXTEND SEMESTERS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 10, 1993                   TAG: 9302100307
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By DANIELLE CORSO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium
TECH MIGHT EXTEND SEMESTERS
Virginia Tech students may be spending more time in class.
The university is considering lengthening the school year from 140 days to 146 days.
The Scheduling and Registration Committee is expected to endorse the plan today, but two other Tech panels also must approve it for it to take effect.
Many students don't seem to mind the idea of more class time. "We as students have more important things to worry about," said Jason Lavine, a junior majoring in international studies.
But David Rubinstein, an associate professor of management, has doubts.
"Knowledge should stay fresh," he said. "Keeping a little on the shorter side is better."
Tech has 69 days in its fall term and 71 days in its spring term.
The proposal, which would take effect in fall 1994, would make each semester 73 days long.
Professors have complained that Tech cut the school year too short when it switched its schedule four years ago from three semesters to two, said Alan McDaniel, assistant professor of horticulture and chairman of the scheduling committee. The three semesters added up to 144 days.
The current schedule doesn't give students time to cover the material in upper-level courses, McDaniel said.
Students in labs also get shortchanged, he said.
Classes usually start on Tuesdays. To avoid leaving behind students with Monday labs, Tech cancels all labs the first week.
Tech isn't the only university thinking about expanding the school year.
The University of Virginia is considering adding a day to each semester, Registrar Roger Printup said.
UVa has 70 days in its fall semester and 68 days in its spring semester.
By contrast, Old Dominion University has five days more than UVa in its school year, for a total of 143. ODU isn't considering any changes, spokeswoman Elizabeth M. Clarke said.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB