One of the most obvious and immediate benefits of the four-day instructional week comes in the form of lower utility costs. Durham Technical Community College recovered more than $30,000 in utility costs during the inaugural summer sessions of the new schedule, savings which positively impacted the budget for not one, but two academic years. In addition to savings on water, electricity, and heat or air conditioning, colleges who adopt the four-day instructional week can also look forward to lower maintenance costs. According to ERIC Digest, the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill. saved more than $23,000 in maintenance costs on the four-day schedule.
The shorter instructional week brought with it changes in hiring practices. While adjusting to longer office hours and a 10-hour work day meant making some challenging personal changes for some instructors, the college benefited from a decreased need for part-time contract instructors. The same applied to other staff members. Class-related activities that took place off campus, such as practical instruction in hospitals, were not impacted by the schedule change.
Durham Technical Community College communicated with students about the new schedule before it went into effect. Although some were concerned about decreased access to some services, such as computer labs or the library, most were understanding. ERIC Digest states that of students surveyed regarding the four-day instructional week at the College of DuPage, 72 percent were in favor of the four-day schedule. Twenty-five percent indicated improvements in specific areas, such as commuting time and improved time management.
A less obvious, but no less important benefit of the move to a four-day week for community colleges is a decreased environmental footprint. Durham Technical Community College President Bill Ingram has committed the college to go "green." Ingram estimates that the move to an abbreviated schedule during its inaugural summer lowered the level of carbon monoxide produced by the college by some 20 percent, an area of special concern during the summer, when ozone levels are more problematic.