If a class is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., University students know their professor won’t begin lecturing until 9:40, the actual start time of the class. But a resolution in the Faculty Senate is seeking to synchronize the schedule and change the start time of class, meaning the professor would begin the lesson promptly at 9:30.Faculty Senate Resolution 09-01, sponsored by Construction Management and Industrial Engineering Senator Fereydoun Aghazadeh, aims to change the University’s class schedule so that classes begin on the hour and half past the hour, rather than 10 minutes after the scheduled start time. Classes would then end 10 minutes earlier.For example, a 9:30 class currently begins at 9:40 and ends at 10:30.  Under the Faculty Senate proposal, that class would begin at 9:30 and end at 10:20.Aghazadeh could not be reached for comment on the resolution. But according to Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope, the motivation for the idea lies in time conflicts that arise because of classes ending on the hour and half-hour.”Most meetings and events, other than classes, start precisely on time,” Cope said. “This creates an awkward situation.”Cope said students or faculty members may be late to meetings that begin on the hour because they are getting out of class at the same time the meeting is set to start.   The resolution was presented at the Faculty Senate’s January meeting, followed by a short discussion and debate. Cope said seven senators spoke on the issue, six in favor and one opposed.The resolution will be voted on at the senate’s next meeting Feb. 19.If the resolution passes, the University registrar’s office would begin work on adjusting the schedule.Registrar Robert Doolos said his only concern is making the class schedule as efficient as possible.”I neither support [the resolution] or not support it,” Doolos said. “We’re here to serve faculty and students. We can make that change with respect to the schedule.”Doolos said assuring everyone is on the same timetable is the most important part of implementing the policy.”As long as we make it definite so everybody knows when their class starts, there’s no ambiguity,” said Doolos. “That’s the important thing.”Doolos acknowledged there would be a period of adjustment for all involved. He said he understands beginning class 10 minutes earlier would take time to get used to.Patrick Carson, economics freshman, said the change would not be a drastic one.”I wouldn’t mind that,” Carson said. “I could adjust.”But other students are unhappy with the shift of the 10-minute transition period.”When I’m coming to school, I have a grace period to wake up late,” said Josh Carley, mass communication junior. Amy Townsley, history junior, said she needs the time before class to get her children to day care.Jonathan Rayfort, general studies senior, said starting class earlier could be harmful to students.”If your first class is at 8:30 a.m., you’ll probably be late,” said Rayfort. “You would only benefit if you have back-to-back classes.”It is unclear exactly when the new schedule would be implemented if the resolution is passed.”I suppose it would take place in fall 2009,” Cope said.           But Doolos is unsure, saying it would take a lot of work to apply the policy.”I don’t know about [fall 2009],” Doolos said. “Whenever the decisionis made, we would start working on it.”If implemented, the new policy would only be valid for fall and spring semesters.- – – -Contact Ryan Buxton at [email protected]