Let us have more testing hours

By Janice Tarlecki

In the struggle to finish degree programs while working full-time days, I have had great difficulty with the Independent Study testing center hours being so limited. I have talked to others with the same difficulties. The bottom line: limited testing hours + limited evening and IS classes = frustration.

MHCC evening enrollment has grown exponentially in the last few years, due to layoffs, and displaced workers, baby boomers starting mid-life career changes and other needs. As evening students and independent study (IS) enrollment have increased, students frequently encounter difficulty in scheduling their tests.

According to Tim Green, interim director of Research and Planning, “Student enrollment for evening and IS classes in the Fall of 2004 were at 19 percent, in comparison to 79 percent for days. That number has continued to increase dramatically each term, as you can tell by the parking lot at night,” he added, “and it will probably only keep increasing. The percentages are based on student attendance in classes after 5 p.m.,” said Green.

At present, the IS center is only open from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday night, and again for one hour on Thursday evening from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. If people work until 5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. and don’t make it until 6:31 p.m., too bad for them – IS stops handing out tests 30 minutes to close. Even if you make it, you may not have enough time to take the exam efficiently. The availability for testing center hours during the daytime classes is 70 percent of the enrollment hours. In contrast, the evening hours available are 8 percent of evening enrollment hours. If the only available evening class happens to fall on one of the two open nights, (open for an hour), the availability has now dropped to 4 percent of possible testing times.

One main reason students take IS, Web-based and evening classes is because their schedules often create an inability to take classes and tests during daytime hours – I’m one of them, and I know a lot more students in the same situation. However, as a full-time student and worker, I can understand how the overworked teachers maintaining the center might be struggling with their time as well. There simply needs to be some kind of compromise that can benefit both sides.

According to Larry Wise, an MHCC psychology teacher and head of the IS testing center, “For the organized student, IS works. Some students need classrooms, but others do better with independent study based on a structured syllabus and flexible opportunities,” he added. “They simply have to prioritize their tighter schedules a little better.”

Here’s a debacle that may sound familiar: I work full time during the day. I get off work at 4:30 and arrive at MHCC at 5:30 p.m. If there’s bad traffic, an emergency, a printer problem, or anything that delays my arrival to the IS testing center, I’m out of luck. The history class that I’m taking requires a research paper be turned in with each test, without exception. If anything gets in my way, I can’t get credit for either one. This leaves me with three tests and three 900-word research papers, two of which must be finished today, because I’m only allowed to take one test during finals week, Monday evening. Oh, and the IS testing center is open Monday until 8 p.m., and closes Tuesday at noon. Since I know I didn’t procrastinate and was at the mercy of class on Wednesday evening, and several unforeseen circumstances, I looked for resolve. I certainly don’t want to blow it right before graduation, over lack of time for testing.

When I tried to get to the heart of the problem, Wise had some suggestions to help the students that find themselves in a bind with their schedules.
“Most instructors are very flexible if you ask,” said Wise. “Like any other class, it depends on what the student is willing to put into it, and most teachers will do whatever they can to help the student succeed,” said Wise. “Sometimes arrangements can be made to have a proctor in the library for testing one night a week or a weekend day, since the staff is already available,” he said. “Sometimes the instructor can arrange for the student to take their needed tests in the College Testing center, normally set-up for Web-based classes and College Level Examination Programs,” he added. “The IS testing room is run by teachers on a rotating schedule, and changes every term, based on the availability and needs,” said Wise. “For example, starting Friday, March 17, before finals week, the testing center will be open a few extra hours until 4:30 p.m., and on the Monday night of finals week, until 8 p.m.,” said Wise. “I am planning to keep it open Spring term on Tuesday nights, until 7 p.m., because of the additional needs of graduating students,” he added. “Whatever the solution, there are always alternatives for students that can’t conform to the limited hours available,” he added.

With tests and research papers looming in the next couple of days, some of us certainly hope so.