COLUMBIA, S.C.
Some Benedict College students have a legitimate excuse to miss a couple of classes at the start of this year’s spring semester.
School officials decided last month to move up the start of classes by five days — but didn’t tell the students until after they had gone home for the holiday break. Those who did get a letter from the school notifying them of the change or heard elsewhere that classes were going to start a little sooner will at least get a head start at the private historically Black college.
School spokeswoman Kymm Hunter said one reason the scheduled was hastened was the high number of students who pre-registered. Roughly 88 percent, or 2,252 students, pre-registered during the fall semester.
Hunter said starting early is a good thing. “This will allow us to get a jump on the semester,” she said.
Those students who don’t make it back in time for the start of classes Jan. 12 won’t be penalized, Hunter said.
Some students were concerned about spending money to rearrange travel plans to get to school on time.
“If you don’t have the money it will be a problem,” said Davone Reid of New York. “But if you do, then there’s no problem.”
There was no problem for Ebony Adams, who attended freshmen orientation last week. “I’m ready for college life — being more responsible and independent,” she said.
However, her mom, Charlene Massey, had to rearrange her work schedule to make it to campus on time.
Benedict College was founded in 1870 on an 80-acre plantation here
— Associated Press
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