Beginning in 2011, students will be offered more flexible summer schedules allowing’ ‘ more courses to be taken in just one session, and possibly an easier transition from work to school.
On Jan. 15, USI’s Faculty Senate approved changes in the summer calendar. Courses will now be offered for two sessions during the summer instead of the three that are normally offered.
According to Nadine Coudret, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, the new summer calendar will ‘provide additional flexibility to students taking courses.’
There will be a variety of courses offered each session and the sessions will vary in length.
The first session will contain four, five and six week courses. The second session will contain eight weeks worth of classes total, Coudret said.
There will even be some two-week intensive and international study classes, which can be taken along with a four-week course, allowing students to complete two courses in a matter of six weeks.
‘(The change) is better for students in terms of different course lengths,’ Coudret said.
Coudret said that enrollment in the third summer session is typically low. According to the Office of Planning, Research and Assessment (OPRA) statistics, there were 2,334 students enrolled in summer courses for session one, 2,319 students enrolled in session two and 1,641 students enrolled in session three for the year 2009.
‘Students probably need a break,’ Coudret said.
While professors will be given more time to prepare for classes and students more time to relax, the changes were made primarily for student flexibility.
‘Five weeks are pretty rigid,’ Coudret said.
The idea had been discussed for the past year and a half before approval.
According to Coudret, there are currently no cost changes.
This summer, sessions will be offered from May 10 to June 11 for the first session, from June 14 to July 16 for the second session and from July 19 to August 20 for the third session. Classes will begin for the 2010-2011 academic year Aug. 30.
According to Coudret, for the summer of 2011, the first session will be offered from May 11 to June 17 and the second from June 20 to Aug. 12.
This flexibility will allow students to ‘work in June and still have the opportunity to take a course’ Coudret said.
On the agenda next for the Faculty Senate is the’ discussion of the possibility of implementing a Fall Break for USI students.
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