October 2012
opinion
Calendar options
require student input
By: Jordan Harrison and Jay Buchanan
DISCLAIMER:
The following is not
intended to reflect the actual
views of the writers. This
work is only intended as an
exercise in debate.
Point
The Calendar and Schedule
Committee has been hard at
work developing calendar
options that fit with NCSSM
Strategic Planning goals, such
as increased synchronicity
between residential and DEEP
schedules, more common time
for students and teachers, and
alignment of breaks with major
holidays. They have come up
with five options: the current
trimester system, trimesters
with a November intercession
(essentially an extended
Mini-Term), semesters and/
or quarters with Mini-Term,
semesters/quarters with a
January intercession, and
semesters/quarters with both
Mini-Term and an intercession.
It is essential that the school
stay on a trimester schedule.
What makes NCSSM
unique and different from
other schools is our variety of
classes and unique electives,
such as graph theory, classical
mythology, and computer
science.
One of the goals of strategic
planning was to preserve
“authentic choice of courses
and electives” for students.
Moving to a semester
system would decrease that
authentic choice.
In a sample of 16 student
schedules on the current
trimester system that were
converted to a semester
system, three schedules lost
one elective, three schedules
lost two electives, one schedule
lost three electives, and two
schedules lost two or more
electives, whereas only five
schedules gained electives.
While some departments,
such as math and chemistry,
would like semesters because
they would give classes more
“soak time”, the engineering
and technology department
would likely lose student
participation, as it doesn’t have
a graduation requirement.
Another benefit of
trimesters is that they align
well with fall, winter, and
spring sports. Therefore, when
students go home for trimester
breaks, they can rest easy
knowing that they not only are
done with assignments, but
also won’t get rusty in their
chosen sport over the break.
Some migh argue that our
unusual trimester calendar is
what is keeping UNC from
establishing an articulation
agreement with NCSSM;
however, many colleges
operate on a quarter system,
which is essentially a trimester
with a summer session, such
as Northwestern University,
the University of Chicago,
UCLA, California Institute
Impact of Semesters on Student Schedules
0
Gain No loss Lose 1 Lose 2 Lose 3 Lose 4 or
electives elective electives electives more
electives
Elective gain and loss on semester system in 16 diverse schedules
of Technology, and others.
Experience with trimesters
would give students a leg up at
these schools.
Changing the current
calendar to semesters would
require exhaustive curriculum
development, time for which
would be better spent elsewhere
when we have a functional
and efficient trimester system
already in place.
Moving to a semester
system would require that
students have a 6-course load
instead of 5-course load. While
many proponents of semesters
argue that longer courses in the
calendar year would take stress
off of students and allow more
time to learn course material,
but having more classes per
day would just add that same
stress back into the daily
schedule.
Counterpoint
A number of new schedule
proposals include a shift from
the current trimester system
to a semester system. This
system is being considered
because it will promote a
number of programs and will
benefit students more than the
trimester schedule.
The length, depth, and
breadth of knowledge
that courses can impart to
students is one of the primary
arguments favoring a return to
the semester system. Several
departments claim that with
a longer period to cover the
material of their discipline,
students will develop better
understanding.
Courses that are currently
two trimesters in length
would be lengthened to two
semesters, or a full year, which
would yield more time for
alternatives to the traditional
lecture, like field trips and
creative projects.
Proponents of the semester
system also argue that a full
semester or year for courses
would allow for more free
time during the week. The
homework load could be
lightened because classes
could move at a slightly slower
pace and those courses that
meet five days each week
could start meeting four times
instead.
This free time would give
students more opportunities to
rest, as well as meet with their
teacher for consultation.
The semester system
is significantly easier to
coordinate with Distance
Education and Extended
Programs (DEEP). DEEP
operates on a semester system
in accordance with North
Carolina public schools in
order to serve the online
students who are still working
on semesters at home. This
coordination would not only
make it easier on the DEEP
faculty and online students, but
also on the residential students
enrolled in web-based courses,
who currently have to plan
their breaks around scheduled
visitation weekends for DEEP
students.
The holiday calendar
would also be much more
manageable on a semester
system. Particularly in the
cases of November and
December, trimester breaks
and extended weekends fall
at inopportune times, causing
Courtesy of Calendar and
Schedule Committee
severe gaps in instructional
time. With exams taking place
before the winter holiday break
students would be free of stress
and homework over their time
with their families.
Perhaps the mbSt iriteresting
addition to the annual schedule
that could come with semesters
is the intercession. Much like a
full month of mini-term study,
the program would allow
students to take a month-long
pair of courses for academic
credit in specific disciplines
relating to their interests.
Proponents of semesters feel
that intercession could provide
an easier transition into school
following winter break (as it
would most likely take place
in January) and could break up
any monotony that might arise
due to lengthened courses.
Other options that could
be provided by changes to the
trimester or semester system
are more evening courses, an
alternative “A-B Schedule” (in
which one week of each month
would come with time built in
for field trips and projects).
Todd Roberts, NCSSM
Chancellor, will release a
decision based on the results of
focus groups and Calendar and
Schedule Committee meetings
later this year.
the stentorian [ ncssm
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Continued from page 3
Director of Public Relations,
Jay Buchanan, and the Chair of
Public Relations, Albert Hong,
at buchananl 3i@ncssm.edu
and hongl3s@ncssm.edu. to
get involved.
Student Affairs prioritizes
improving the quality of
student life at NCSSM. In
recent months. Student Affairs
has gained a number of student
discounts from 9* street.
The committee is currently
focusing on creating a
“Smather’s Guide to Durham”,
implementing the Privilege
Card system, and organizing
group college visits and tours
in addition to expanding the
library hours during exams.
For questions or concerns
or to get involved, contact
the Chair of Student Affairs,
Corey Su at sul3c@.ncssm.
edu.
Apart from individual
committees, the Executive
branch serve the Senate to
make an impact not only on-
campus but off-campus as
well.
President Anita Simha is
currently working with the
Sustainability Task Force to
utilize the Green Initiatives
Grant offered by University
of North Carolina Association
of Student Governments
(UNCASG) to support
sustainability on campus.
Treasurer Ankit Gupta is
working to ensure a balanced
budget and simultaneously
fulfilling the needs of
student organizations. Kyle
Elmore, the SG Director-of
IT, is working to improve
SG Website and possibly to
create an extended website for
student organizations.
Student Government
always welcomes students’
input. For any questions or
concerns, or to be a part of
Student Government, email
sg@ncssm.edu or visit the
website at w'ww.ncssm.edu/
■Sg/.
SG General Meetings
WEDNESDAYS 12:25-
12:50PM
Every other SUNDAY
7:00-8:00PM
the
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