Penn State students who hate waking up for 8 a.m. classes may be able to stay in bed a little longer. University President Graham Spanier is urging officials to schedule fewer 8 a.m. classes and move them to late afternoons or evenings.

"This will be done gradually so that we can assess student response," Spanier said in an e-mail.

The mandate is part of Spanier's theme this year to make Penn State a more "student-centered" university, which was the focus of his State of the University address in September. He said last week that fewer 8 a.m. classes should be offered because most students do not like them.

"I am hopeful that by becoming more student-centered through class scheduling [that] student classroom attendance, motivation and alertness will improve," Spanier said.

Janis Jacobs, vice provost and dean for undergraduate education, said while Spanier believes absenteeism will decrease if more classes are offered later in the day, there is no actual way to measure this because most faculty do not take attendance.

Spanier said his plan depends on classroom availability and the ability to avoid conflicts with classes that have exams or laboratories in the evening.

John Moore, University Faculty Senate chair, said from his experience as a scheduling officer for the English department, students don't want late afternoon classes but prefer later classes to 8 a.m. classes. If people want to skip a class they will do so regardless of the time, he added.

"I think students are just as happy to miss a class at 10:00 or 11:00 [a.m.] just as well as an 8 o'clock class," he said.

He also said most students are probably more attentive at midday than early in the morning.

Jacobs said the needs are different for each individual, and a balance should be reached between early and late classes.

Deborah Lyons (junior-psychology) is taking an 8 a.m. class this semester.

"I actually really like 8 a.m. [classes]. It gets them over and done with," she said. This allows her to do other things in the afternoon, she added.

Nate Matthews (senior-business logistics) said he feels he is in the majority of students who don't like early classes.

"I think that's a great idea," he said. "I'd never take an 8 a.m."

Jacobs and Moore said the highest demand for classes is between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Starting this semester, the University of Oregon is encouraging students to take classes at less popular times and trying to keep tuition increases down by discounting tuition for classes that begin at 3 p.m. or later.