With the addition of new staff in the University Registrar’s office came a new problem for faculty within the Department of Communication. Several professors started this semester by having to switch classrooms, Xavier Hall was dotted with room change notices.

In past semesters, Tobin Harris of the Registrar’s office was responsible for room assignments. According to the Registrar’s office, Harris left the University in mid-August of2001. Harris’ replacement, Amy Murphy, left the University on Jan. 4.

“Tobin Harris did a good job,” said one faculty member. “He would take care of you, no matter what.”

University Registrar John Jaffry is trying to make efficient use of all rooms.

“We honor requests for all departments,” Jaffry said. “We have no records of any departments’ special requests made to Harris; we do not have any notes that he made about this.”

Paaige Turner, Ph.D. is one of the communication professors who needed to switch classrooms. Turner believes that classrooms are assigned according to classroom capacity.

“I don’t think they look at the classroom size realistically,” Turner said. “It might be physically possible, but not a positive learning environment. I cannot teach the way I teach in certain classrooms.”

Turner switched rooms informally with another professor. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Turner had a 9:30 a.m. class in room 122 and then an 11:00 a.m. class in room 174. Another professor had an 11:00 a.m. class in room 122 and then a 12:45 class in room 174.

Turner and the other professor decided to switch rooms. This change allowed both professors to have both classes in the same classroom.

“It’s easier to schedule a professor back-to-back in the same room,” Turner added. “If classrooms were scheduled by professors and not room capacity, it would help eliminate problems.”

Liese Hutchison, is an assistant professor in the Communication department.

She had two classroom changes. One of her classes, Integrated Communication Campaigns, was scheduled for Tegler Hall. The class was then moved to the Xavier Hall Lounge.

Her other class was also scheduled for Xavier Hall. This course, Public Relations Principles, was assigned to a classroom that held 35 students; the course had 37 students enrolled.

Department staff contacted the Registrar’s office.

“The person in the Registrar’s office told her that it was my fault the room wasn’t big enough because I let in too many students,” said Hutchison. “Shouldn’t the Registrar’s office wait until the enrollment period is over before assigning class space?”

Hutchison has several unanswered questions.

“Since the Communication and Fine Arts departments are located in Xavier, shouldn’t we receive first choice on classrooms?” Hutchison argues. “Why are other departments’ classes being scheduled in Xavier and we’re asked to go to Tegler?”

John Pauly, Ph.D., communication department chair, believes there is more confusion than usual this semester.

“The first couple of days were bad,” Pauly said. “Things seem more settled now.”

Turner hopes that the registrar’s office will adjust its style of classroom assignments.

“It seems like they are doing it mechanically; without considering the implications on students and professors,” Turner believes. “It can be done with recognition that you’re dealing with people.”