Shorter semesters, later start
Starting fall '09, classes to begin after labor day, three week courses to be offered in january term
David Hoyt
Issue date: 3/9/09 Section: News
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There will be no longer a finals week. Mercer has currently a 15 week class schedule and an additional week for testing. It is the finals week which is being cut from the schedule. Instructors who give a final exam will now do so on the last day of class.
Some professors worry that students will not have adequate time to study before taking exams, however, Dr. Guy Generals, Mercer's Vice President for Academic Affairs, says, "Students will have to plan differently," but he adds that he doesn't "believe it will adversely affect students who are conscientious. They will adequately prepare."
In addition to eliminating finals week, fall semesters will start later. Dean of Liberal Arts, Robin Schore, says that "the real issue was starting the semester after labor day." According to Schore, Mercer is one of the few community colleges "who started before Labor Day, [and] it seemed to be a disservice to everyone."
In fact, 15 week semesters are quite typical of community colleges. "We were one of the three Community Colleges in the entire state who were on the 16 week" said Generals. This change will "help many students who have kids in camps" continued Dr. Generals, and it "puts us more into the norm of the way most colleges run."
Dean Schore also notes that the amount of early absences in the fall semester attributed to summer vacations and jobs. Now, fall semesters will start after Labor Day on most years and spring semesters will begin just after Martin Luther King Day (ending four days later than usual for spring).
With the later spring semester start, Mercer will have the time to add a three week winter session. Dean Schore notes that back in the 1970's Mercer used to offer a winter semester but it focused mainly on creative courses. "Most colleges in the state offer something in the winter session" says Schore. "It is nothing that is novel or incredibly creative, but it's helpful." Schore adds.
Dr. Generals says that it will be necessary to "fit the same amount of [class] time into three weeks" and that it "could mean two or three days a week" at a minimum. Courses will be priced at the same level as their summer counterparts.
Three week courses will be only those with high demand. "We'll run what students typically need most" said Dr. Generals about the course selection, "probably gen[eral. ed[ucation] courses." He adds that "more difficult courses we'll probably shy away from… so don't expect to finish differential equations in January." (Mercer does not currently offer a differential equations course).
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