Is it fair to meet outside of scheduled class times?

For the first time this fall, I'm co-teaching a course. Recently, the other prof and I met to sketch out our course objectives. We both agreed that we wanted students to present results from a group project, and we settled on the optimal week to schedule them.

I typed the presentations into the class lecture schedule.

"Wait, what are you doing?" She inquired. "We should schedule them in the evening so we have enough time."

"Okay," I agreed. "So will we meet for about two hours then? Which two class meetings should we cancel to balance it out?"

My colleague stared at me like I had just announced that I was the new Dean.

Siiiiiiiigh.

I explained that I didn't like holding class meetings outside of the scheduled class time....UNLESS I cancel an equal amount of class time. I don't think it is fair to require students to meet both in class and at a set time outside of what the registrar has designated.

Obviously the coursework requires that they spend many, many hours outside of lecture reading, writing, and 'rithmatic-ing. But to take away that study time-- which could be used on another class-- is not fair to the student or to other professors.

I'm pretty sure my fellow prof thinks I just don't want to have to stay on campus beyond work hours (true). But I've taught at institutions that actually had this policy on their books. Of course, many faculty ignored the rule-- as so often happens-- but I think, in this case, it actually is a pretty logical practice to follow.