February 1, 2007

Draft Transition Plan and Process
for Adopting a 14-Week Class Schedule

Goal. Adopt and implement a 14-week class schedule effective with the 2008-2009 academic year.

The decision whether to adopt a 14-week schedule and the “Syracuse” model needs to be made by March 1, 2007. This will allow enough time to plan for the transition, inform System, and give the campus enough lead time to anticipate and deal with any potential problems that this change may cause.

By March 15, 2007 the Provost will form and charge an ad hoc implementation committee to work out the details of the new schedule and to ensure that the transition is as smooth and painless as possible for the entire campus community. The Committee will begin its work immediately.

Committee Composition. Eight (8) members, including Tim Sewall, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs (Chair); Fergus Hughes, Dean of LAS (or designee); Fritz Erickson, Dean of PGS (or designee); Jan Thornton, Associate Provost for Outreach and Adult Access; Mike Herrity, Registrar; Mike Stearney, Assistant Dean for Enrollment and Academic Services; and two academic budget unit chairs. Governance organizations are encouraged to designate a liaison member with full privileges to effectively participate in this working committee.

Committee Charge. Develop a transition plan and on-going processes for scheduling classes, based on a 14-week class schedule and using the “Syracuse model” time slots. The new schedule will be effective beginning with the 2008-2009 academic year. As part of the development process, the committee will:

— Obtain faculty, staff, and student ideas, critiques, and recommendations at each stage.
— Review and, if necessary, revise the class scheduling principles.
— Review and, if necessary, revise the current process of preparing each semester’s schedule of classes.
— Develop a class scheduling process based on an academic year and considering potential summer class offerings.
— Address concerns raised (e.g., four-credit courses, Commencement after finals, etc.) regarding a 14-week schedule.
— Coordinate efforts with other ongoing initiatives, e.g., FOCUS R&R, FOCUS Orientation, general education reform, efficient use of classroom space, spreading class schedules across time slots.
— Work closely with budget unit chairs throughout the development and implementation process.
— Develop a scheduling process that distributes classes across all available timeslots and makes the most efficient use of classroom space.
—Develop a scheduling process that can accommodate the UWGB Growth Agenda, including possible alternative scheduling options for working adults, cohort programs and traditional-aged students.

Interdisciplinary Units and Governance. Each Interdisciplinary Unit will be responsible for adapting the curriculum of its academic programs to fit the 14-week semester model. The deans, in consultation with the Academic Affairs Council, General Education Council, and University Committee will be responsible for developing and implementing a plan for evaluating course and curricula revisions to ensure a smooth, timely, and productive transition of courses and programs to a 14-week semester format.

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