Lincoln Faller, LSA associate dean for undergraduate education, said quality of education is the pertinent issue, not quantity. Faller, who taught in the African nation of Cameroon, said resources can affect the amount of time spent in class per year. Faller said students spent 48 more days in class in 1914 than they did in 1993 because books were less accessible than they are now, and that students spent more time scouring libraries in search of materials. Such issues also came into play during Faller's time in Africa. Cameroon students spent about 30 hours a week in class, but that's because books were in short supply.
Books are accessible here.
But members of the University community said an education in Ann Arbor is worth every penny, regardless of total class hours. LSA senior Matt Holtzman said the intensity of University classes makes students reach their capabilities, although it does become tiring. I wouldn't mind an extra week of vacation to cool it off a bit. It also lets the University have spring and summer terms, allowing students to graduate sooner. Others schools nationwide act on a philosophy that a short academic calendar forces students to take heavier class loads than normal.