Task Groups

 






Winter Session Update 4-2010

Creating a Shared Vision

The Winter Session Task Group explored the opportunity of using the time between the fall and spring semesters for credit-bearing coursework. To conduct their research, the task-group members examined intersession models from multiple institutions, including several PASSHE universities. The group then consulted the units on campus that would be affected by the implementation of an intersession and developed recommendations in line with these assumptions:

  1. Intersession is an opportunity for students to study abroad, take an experimental course, participate in an intense field experience, focus on a particular area of interest, or stay on track for graduation.
  2. Intersession is an opportunity for faculty to offer courses that focus on a particular area of interest and, potentially, to reduce their spring workload.
  3. An intersession will be offered only if it is financially tenable.

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

The Winter Session Task Group recommends beginning a two-year pilot intersession in December 2010. The first year of the pilot would have 10 or fewer class offerings, and the second year would offer 20-30 classes. Among the recommended specific features of the pilot program are the following:

  1. Targeted course formats would be travel studies (abroad or domestic), distance education, hybrid courses, and/or workshops.
  2. The marketing of intersession classes would target a wide variety of students from WCU and other institutions.
  3. Business practices involving housing, financial aid, registration, and billing would be similar to those employed in the summer session.
  4. Incurred costs for the pilot would be in the areas of faculty, marketing, library services, and library security.
  5. The allocation of revenue would be similar to that in the Summer School Model.
  6. Full assessment of the pilot would be conducted upon completion of the second pilot year.

NEXT STEPS

A request for proposals to develop offerings for the 2010/2011 pilot has been issued. Discussions with APSCUF concerning faculty salary are in progress.