Sarah Bannan transferred to ASU this semester from UA expecting some changes.
What she found, though, was a lecture class held in an uncomfortable and inadequate facility.
"It has the most uncomfortable chairs ever and there is no room to walk," the journalism junior said about her classroom in the Life Sciences Building.
Large numbers of ASU students and faculty share the same sentiments as Bannan, saying some classrooms suit their learning needs, while others are out of date or too cluttered.
As a result, the ASU academic senate, comprised of faculty members from each University department, is looking to improve the situation by asking for both student and faculty input to "identify the best and the worst classrooms at ASU."
Eventually, the senate hopes to follow through with the improvements that the feedback indicates are needed, according to Academic Senate President George Watson.
"The classroom is a learning environment," Watson said. "We are going to explore what we can do to identify the worst classrooms and make them into the some of the best."
Watson's interests in the improvements stem from his own experience as a professor at ASU. Watson said Room 148 in the Homer G. Durham Language and Literature Building (built in 1964) provided the worst teaching experience for him, as the classroom was "cramped" for the students.
He added that the building was not suitably air-conditioned and was potentially unsafe because of a broken cord on an overhead projector.
On the contrary, Watson said the classrooms of the 18-year-old Business Administration Building C gave him the best opportunity to teach with their "excellent technological set up," along with tables and chairs that were comfortable for the students.
Lack of facilities may not be a problem because the University does not have the needed equipment, rather that classes are being held in rooms that do not fit their needs.
Three years ago, ASU administration began using a master computer to schedule rooms for its classes. The new process does not guarantee that professors will be matched up with their ideal classroom.
Craig Allen, academic senate member and chair of the Student-Faculty Policy Committee, said he expects the research to take at least the remainder of the academic year and that he sees no short-term answers to the investigation.
"It has no immediate solutions," he said. "I think you can't be too loud and blatant about it. Teachers and students have to realize that it's not a perfect world." He added that progress is being made to improve the facilities, though it may be slower than some may hope.
Allen said his committee is going to identify the classrooms that students and faculty think are well suited for instruction.
"New buildings, like the Lattie F. Coor Building, are going to be the model of the kinds of classrooms we want to have," he said.
With the conclusions they make from the research, Allen said the senate would try to convince administration to make improvements.
He added that he wants to see more classrooms that can accommodate computer technology.
"Many professors use laptops and PowerPoint displays," Allen said. "One classroom might be good and another might only have an overhead for display purposes."
Watson said some classrooms need more space to accommodate every student.
"I have always been a lobby horse for teaching space," Watson said. "I am very picky about what classrooms I teach in."
Reach the reporter at andrew.bernick@asu.edu.
