Studying. For many college students the word has negative connotations. For those who desire academic success, however, it might be a necessary evil.
Because of this the “25-35” campaign was started to remind students to be aware of the way they spend their time outside the classroom.
Most students see the bright yellow, pink and blue signs suggesting 25 to 35 hours of studying each week on their daily walk through campus, and they undoubtedly hear about it during Open House and Week of Welcome.
But how many really heed the mantra?
“Last year I lived in the dorms so it was a really big deal with posters everywhere and signs when you first walked into your room,” said Brad Taylor, an industrial technologies sophomore. “My first quarter I tried to follow the suggestion, but I failed a class anyway and now I only study about 12 hours a week.”
According to the campaign’s creator, Philip Bailey, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, this is a common problem for incoming freshmen who are often unprepared for the workload that college entails.
The average high school student studies about 19 minutes a night.
Because of this, an increase to 10 hours a week may seem huge, but some students still find themselves on academic probation because it won’t be enough, Bailey said.
He also likes to point out to new students that they would generally spend 40 to 50 hours in high school between classes and extra curricular activities.
In college, the average student spends 12 to 16 hours in class each week. Adding 25 to 35 hours of studying merely keeps these time amounts equal.
Most teachers and advisers agree with the suggested hours of study and help promote the idea by placing signs in their own department buildings, while explaining to students the importance of studying outside of class.
“At Cal Poly, our expectations are high and we really expect students to do a lot more work outside the classroom than in high school,” said Wendy Spradlin, an academic adviser for the College of Liberal Arts. “Just sitting in class isn’t enough. You really need to do the readings and the work outside of class to be successful.”
But whether students opt to do the extra work, however, remains a personal choice.
“When I came to academic advising over the summer they talked about it a whole lot, but I don’t really follow it,” said Natalie Fletcher, a political science freshman. “I think it’s a good guideline, but I don’t think people do it. It’s a lot of time to ask someone to put in.”
Others modify the rule to meet their own needs and add two hours of studying to every unit of class they find important.
“I think the suggestion’s a good idea, especially if you want to get good grades in your major classes,” said mathematics junior Katie Vaughn. “I definitely follow it for all my major classes.”
Though some may not heed the guideline and others take it seriously, Bailey believes that putting out the word and making the reminder visible is helpful to students.
Since the beginning of the campaign, the number of freshmen on academic probation within the College of Science and Mathematics has declined.
Whether students choose to take the advice or leave it, the signs will likely be a permanent fixture on campus.
“Superficially, it’s like a brand or an advertisement,” Bailey said. “It’s not just about the signs though, it’s really about what takes place inside and outside the classroom.”