New Chapel Times, Course Schedule Announced for Fall 2024
MC Provost Dr. Mike Highfield implements a course schedule change, opening the door for more classes to be offered during chapel.
Since his arrival at Mississippi College, Provost Dr. Mike Highfield has implemented several changes at the institution. According to Highfield, his biggest suggestion yet comes in the form of a schedule shift for future semesters, starting with Fall 2024.
“A schedule is kind of a big moving puzzle, and we have to put it all together in a very systematic way,” Highfield said. “The changes that are related to chapel, in particular, are the most troubling in terms of a scheduling perspective.”
Historically, class schedules at MC have revolved around chapel, which is currently offered at 10:50 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
However, beginning in Fall 2024, both chapel services will take place on Thursdays — the first at 11:00 a.m. and the second at 12:30 p.m.
In another change, campus will no longer pause for chapel services. Instead, limited classes will be offered during the two chapel times. Departments have been given stipulations if they wish to offer a class during the “chapel period.” Classes being offered during the chapel time slots are limited to graduate and PA courses, senior-level (400-level) courses, and courses with multiple session offerings per semester, including at least one offering in a non-chapel service time slot.
“We currently have the entire campus set up to where on Tuesday and Thursday at 11 o'clock we do not offer any classes on this campus,” Highfield said. “That's problematic as the institution has grown. So when we're saying Swor Auditorium seats, give or take, 800 students. We shut down an entire campus of 5,000 students for 800 students to attend Chapel.”
By moving both chapels to Thursday, MC will not only be able to spread out their class offerings, but also decrease their spending on guest speakers.
“When we bring in guest speakers who lead chapel, right now we're having to bring in somebody two times a week, which obviously increases cost to the institution,” Highfield said.
Highfield also saw the need to standardize MC’s class schedule with the majority of other institutions.
The amended schedule will offer a new time slot for Monday / Wednesday classes with a start time of 7:35 a.m. Monday / Wednesday/ Friday classes and Tuesday / Thursday classes will continue to begin at 8 a.m. Classes, with the exception of the 7:35 a.m. class, will begin at the top of the hour and at the half hour.
With a schedule aligned to other universities, transfer students and the small pocket of students who simultaneously take classes at both MC and at another institution can experience smoother transitions between courses.
Highfield proposed these amendments to several people, including the VP for the Student Experience and Dean of Students, as well as the deans of the seven schools on campus. Assistant Dean of Christian Leadership Becca Benson and Director of Worship Collective Tyler Kemp were also a part of the revision process. They ensured that students involved with the chapel band and chapel team were kept in consideration.
“Overall, the change allows for an additional class time to be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, ultimately producing more classes or sections of classes to be offered,” Benson said. “The institution-wide decision will result in both weekly Chapel gatherings moving to Thursdays, thus allowing us to provide the same experience to all students enrolled in Chapel.”