The Friday Rush to the Testing Center

It's Friday; the weekend is so close. One more test to take and you are finished for the week!   You walk to the Technology Building, anticipating the test. You climb the stairs to the third floor and walk to room 8346. You are ready, but the door is locked. You check your watch. 2:30p.m. You groan and wonder when you will be able to make up this test. You could be thinking; should I email my teacher, will I have to study again over the weekend, or, can I even take this Monday?

The only problem with the Testing Center is the Friday hours. Monday through Thursday the center is open from 8:15 a.m.to 9:45 p.m. However, on Fridays the closing time is reduced to 2:30 p.m. This creates a problem for the student body.  Students are on campus at all times of the day and should be able to take tests after 2:30 on Fridays as well. "I think it is very inconvenient that the Testing center closes so early in the afternoon on Friday," says Chris Barker, a student here at RCC. He goes on to say that, "This is specifically a problem for people who have classes all day Friday and are not able to use the Testing Center because by the time they get out of class, it's closed. I know some students work throughout the week in the afternoons, and are off on Friday. Since the Testing Center is closed at the time they need it open, they are at a disadvantage."

When asked why Friday hours are short Interim Director of Academic Support Services, Professor Dellatorre, who runs both the Tutoring Center and Testing Center responded, "Tradition. It has always been this way and does not have such a demand to be opened on Friday. The Testing Center is open for long hours during the rest of the week. There has been no request to stay open longer on Fridays." No one has made him aware that extending the center's hours would be highly beneficial to students all around campus.

If there were a high demand to stay open he would try to be responsive, but expanding the hours might come at a cost.  Dellatorre stated, "If we expand hours, we need to find budget money to do so. It's not magic or a secret to do it" Mr. Dellatorre then posed a question. "How long would the hours be extended for? Five O'clock? 7 O'clock? How late are students requesting the center to be open for?" Mr. Dellatorre continued with a smile. "If there is a genuine need for it, we will meet it. It is our job!" The need will be met if more people express their desire for longer Friday hours.