The Loss of Common Hour & Its Effect on Students and Administration
Examining the effect of the loss of common hours on Students, administration, and clubs.
Digital image created by Kyra Higbie Feb 23, 2022. The clock striking 11:15 once represented the start of SCCC’s common hour, but with the beginning of the 2022 spring semester it does so no more.
March 4, 2022
The dissolution of common hour by SCCC administration has led to many mixed reactions among those a part of SCCC’s student and faculty life. From clubs scrambling to find new meeting times that work for members, to students now being able to attend classes at one of the most popular meeting times, 11:00 a.m. The decision has had a dual impact.
At the start of the spring semester, common hour, a period from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm on Wednesdays designated for student activities, clubs, and studies has been dissolved after a committee of student representatives, department chairs, and other faculty members recommended such to SCCC President Edward Bonahue.
SCCC President Edward Bonahue commented via email, on the shift saying, “We suspended Common Hour so that students would have more opportunities to register for classes at the most popular time on all of our campuses: 11:00 a.m.”
The decision has been met with both positive and negative reactions from students, administrators, and club heads.
He went further to comment about its effect on clubs via email, saying, “My hope is that the change will provide more flexibility for student groups, allowing them to get together at a variety of times, not just the time when most students want to take a class.”
Head of the Suffolk Broadcasters Club and Assistant Professor of Radio and Television, Carl Coulanges weighed in on the issue.
Coulanges club has met from 11:10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. both before the dissolution of common hour and now with the loss of it. He shared his opinion in an interview
“We have seen a major decrease in participation, one of our executive members is unable to attend because he has class. I believe most students are in class and cannot attend. It really is unfortunate. The common hour gave students a break between classes to not only relax but attend clubs and activities. Students need a common hour.”