University of Utah students protest course schedule change

SALT LAKE CITY — Students at the University of Utah are pushing back against the school’s move to schedule more classes outside of prime hours.

Since the U announced the decision, more than 6,300 people have signed a petition asking the school to reconsider. 

Originally, the announcement appeared that the changes, which will move many classes outside of the prime window between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., was designed to address campus parking issues. 

KSL NewsRadio previously reported that the U plans to hold half of its classes outside peak hours next semester. 

However, some feel that the change will make it more difficult for students who have obligations outside of school, such as jobs or children. 

“Many students including myself work jobs or have other obligations after school and this new policy which is pushing more late afternoon and nigth classes directly effects our ability to meet those obligations,” Eric Sheffer, a senior at the University of Utah said. 

He believes the new schedule will only worsen parking issues. 

“It will worsen the parking problem on campus because students who normally leave during the mid afternoon are just going to stay parked all day long,” Sheffer said. 

The university later addressed a social media post that implied that parking shortages were the main cause for the schedule change. This is what it wrote in an email to KSL NewsRadio’s Heather Peterson:

“Unfortunately, a poorly framed social media post from the university suggested this initiative is focused on alleviating parking constraints on campus. That is not accurate.”

Chris Nelson, the University of Utah’s chief relations officer, said he hears the students’ concerns about parking and class times, but it’s about offering more options.