A study recently released by the Office of Institutional Assessment and Studies shows that University students devote less time than University officials expect them to spend on studying and homework.
The University study, "How Undergraduates Spend Their Time," evaluated how students in the class of 1999 spent their free time over the course of their four years at the University.
"The study was designed to help better understand undergraduate life in hopes of improving students' life," said Ned Moomaw, director of the Office of Institutional Assessment and Studies.
According to the study, the average student at the University devotes 15-20 hours a week to academic pursuits.
This is less than how much time the University says students should spend studying.
According to Prof. Melvyn P. Leffler, dean of the College, students should expect to spend between two and three hours outside of class studying for every hour of their in-class time. So, if a student is taking 15 hours of class a week, he or she should spend 30-40 hours a week studying outside of class.
Despite the fact that students do not study as much as the University would like them to, the study shows that they still are successful in earning good grades.
Moomaw said this disparity could be a result of different expectations and standards.
"The data we collected suggests that students aren't being challenged enough," Moomaw said.
Many students involved in the study are not devoting this amount of time to academic pursuits. This has led many in the administration to question whether or not students are in fact being challenged by their classes and professors.
"I have been encouraging chairs of the departments to make sure their students are meeting expectations and being challenged." Leffler said. "Students are key to the academic life here at the University."
But University students said they believe they are studying enough.
"I think the students at the University are driven enough to study enough and get the desired grades," third-year Commerce student Michelle Harding said. "If that is less than 30-40 hours a week, then more power to them."
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