Some students will have a better break this summer. Beginning next quarter, students in the College of Arts and Sciences will only need 191 hours to graduate, rather than the previous 196.The College of the Arts and Sciences and the Council on Academic Affairs have approved the lowering of hours required for a B.A. degree, a B.S. degree, and a B.A. degree in Journalism.”This won’t change the GEC or major requirements,” said Janet Sorrels, assistant executive dean arts and sciences. “It may possibly eliminate some electives.”Jack Cooley, assistant dean of arts and sciences, said the decision was made in the last couple of weeks, but the council has been looking towards making changes in graduate requirements for three years.”The consideration was based on academic grounds,” Cooley said. “If students choose courses carefully they can still get a good degree with 191 credits.” He said there may be some implications financially for OSU, but doubts it would be anything substantial.”It won’t really have an effect on me,” said Elena Syrkin, a senior who plans to graduate this fall in arts and sciences. “I think they should lower the requirements in general.”In today’s business world one of the most important things to have is technical experience,” she said. “And basically a liberal arts degree in business means nothing.”Students who will be graduating summer or autumn should meet with their academic counselors. “It’s just breaking news, so I haven’t had students come in,” said Sharon Hamersley, academic counselor of the Arts and Sciences. “But I would encourage students to come in and talk to an adviser to see if it effects them, and it may or may not.”