Heavy eyelids and drooping heads usually are seen in an 8 a.m. class.

Although 8 a.m. classes may be undesirable, there currently are 6,869 students taking them, according to the Office of Registration and Records.

Theodore Kisiel, a research professor of philosophy, said he prefers not to teach an 8 a.m. class.

“I didn’t want it,” he said. “It just happened to be the only time the smart classroom was available. There is a slump in attendance.”

There currently are 260 undergraduate classes offered at 8 a.m.

Don Larson, executive director of enrollment services at Registration and Records, said he thinks students choose 8 a.m. classes either because they like them, or because they need to fill a hole in their schedules.

“My impression is [8 a.m. classes] are the first choice for a number of people,” he said.

Math instructor Christine Leroux said she likes having classes early in the day.

“That’s not a popular view,” she said. “People don’t like teaching at 8 [a.m.].”

Kisiel and Leroux both say there seems to be a variation as to when students are attentive.

Kisiel said the “just-before-lunch crowd” seems to be less attentive, while his 9:30 a.m. students are the most attentive.

“I would say there’s kind of a weariness curve,” Kisiel said.

Economics graduate student Rupali Suryawanshi said she is used to getting up early. However, she does sometimes find herself sleepy in the mornings.

“Worse than 8 a.m. classes are the later classes,” Leroux said. “People are ready to be done for the day.”

The attendance and performance rate can vary from semester to semester, Leroux said.

“My 8 a.m. class this semester seems to be doing better with time,” she said. “It depends on the class and it depends on the students who make up the class.”

More people attend Kisiel’s 8 a.m. class this semester compared to past years, he said.

Sarah Callahan, a senior high incidence special education major, said 9 a.m. is the earliest class she willingly will take, and she is more prone to missing an earlier class.

“I think you’re a little more alert later on,” she said. “I’ve never really met anybody who’s a fan of an early class.”

There is no easy solution to eliminating 8 a.m. classes because each school day already is full of courses from 8 a.m. to 8:40 p.m., Larson said. If all 8 a.m. classes were eliminated, there would be no slot to place the 260 extra courses.