The number of 8 a.m. classes in fall 2003 does not appear to have changed, despite Penn State President Graham Spanier's request to schedule classes later.

Spanier said in late November the university should reduce the number of 8 a.m. classes. One week later, he said he was urging university officials to slowly start cutting back on early classes.

But a comparison of fall 2002 and fall 2003 class schedules shows the number of 8 a.m. classes has not changed.

Some department officials in charge of scheduling said they have still not been given any directive to reduce the number of 8 a.m. classes.

"We have received no official word through university channels about this," said Peter Jurs, assistant head of undergraduate education and professor for the chemistry department.

Bob Ricketts, professor and scheduling officer for the kinesiology department, said he switched a couple of 8 a.m. classes, but that his department has not been given a directive, either.

"We have not been directly told," he said. "Obviously we heard Spanier's message."

Spanier said in an e-mail yesterday the university's goal for next year was a "very modest reduction in 8 a.m. classes."

"The schedule gets set far in advance, so I don't anticipate much change for next fall," he added.

University registrar James Wager said it might have been too late to implement the plan for next fall when Spanier announced his decision.

"The majority of the fall schedule was probably assembled nine months ago," Wager said.

Janis Jacobs, vice provost and dean for undergraduate education, said most administrators first heard about Spanier's plan from an article in the Daily Collegian in December.

Spanier said the class shift will be overseen by two university vice provosts, including Jacobs.

"We've just begun to talk about this. Even for next fall it's going to be difficult," Jacobs said.

She said the university is looking at a long-range program to slowly move classes to the late afternoon and early evening.

But she said some professors and department heads are concerned about possible conflicts with exams, labs and student activities at night.

The plan also entails logistics of determining which classrooms are open and how many seats are needed to make the shift.

"I think it's going to be slower than most students wish it would be," Jacobs said.

Wager said the presence of 8 a.m. classes has dropped off significantly in the last decade.

Since 1992, 4 percent fewer 8 a.m. classes have been scheduled, Wager said. This represents more than 300 sections of early morning classes.

"I think Spanier's comments were really to encourage that," he said.

Soon after Spanier's original announcement, some students worried that he wanted to eliminate all 8 a.m. classes, although that was not the intent of the statement.

The changes should slowly but surely come.

"We're definitely going to do it," Jacobs said. "We just have to get there."