Task Groups

 






Winter Session Task Group Charge

Creating a Shared Vision

Background

The three-week time period between fall and spring semesters provides the opportunity for academic programming. Students could retake courses in order to stay on track. Students might also take the opportunity to study abroad, take an experimental course, participate in an intense field experience, or focus on a particular area of interest. A winter session could provide faculty with increased flexibility in scheduling research or service activities by reducing their fall or spring teaching load. Alternatively, faculty could supplement their salary.

Purpose

Explore opportunity to use the time between fall & spring semesters for credit-bearing coursework.

Charge

  1. Collect and study winter session models from other PASSHE Institutions and regional competitors.
  2. Identify and consult with units that may be impacted (e.g. registrar, marketing, financial aid, housing) and discuss the feasibility, advantages, and disadvantages of a winter session.
  3. Identify potential categories of offerings, and explore options for a quick approval process through CAPC for one time offerings.
  4. Identify potential target audiences (e.g. matriculated students, local students on winter break from other institutions, local residents, etc.) and consider marketing strategies.
  5. In the final report which is to be submitted by February, 2010, make recommendations about whether or not to move forward with the concept as a pilot. Additionally, if the recommendation is to proceed, the final report should make recommendations on the implementation phase that include:
    1. Funding model(s) that addresses additional costs and the allocation of additional revenues and,
    2. A timeline, identifying the year in which winter session would begin, with attendant processes for implementation of:
      • CAPC approval of course offerings
      • Necessary modifications to existing business practices and systems that allow for the registration, billing, and housing (if necessary) of winter session participants
      • Marketing strategies
      • CBA-consistent options for faculty participation (e.g. parallel to summer pay; load leveling between fall, winter, spring)
      • Communication with the Council of Trustees, students, faculty, and others affected by the changes.