Ad Hoc Calendar Committee: Report to Academic Senate

Ad Hoc Calendar Committee: Report to Academic Senate

Committee Name:Ad Hoc Calendar Committee

Chair:Larry G. Pagel

Subject:Academic Calendar Recommendations (2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-1014)

First Reading:April 6, 2010

Recommendation:

The Ad Hoc Calendar Committee recommends that the Academic Senate adopt the attached academic calendar for the following academic years: (1) 2011 – 2012, (2) 2012 – 2013, and (3)

2013 – 1014.

The Ad Hoc Calendar Committee was composed of the following individuals: Larry G. Pagel, Chair (College of Business), Yvonne Lee (College of Professional Studies; former Ad Hoc Calendar Committee member), Joe Lubig (College of Professional Studies); Jason T. Morgan (ASNMU President; Student), Cindy Prosen (Dean, Graduate Studies), Kim Rotundo (Registrar), and Ruth Watry (College of Arts and Sciences).

One of the challenges of the Ad Hoc Calendar Committee was to evaluate the feasibility of adopting an academic calendar which reduced the number of weeks in the fall and winter semesters, yet which did not reduce the time students attended class and which maintained academic integrity. One of the models the committee evaluated recommended a 12-week semester. In researching the possibility of reducing the number of weeks in any semester, the ad hoc committee found that the U.S. Department of Education has specific requirements regarding minimal instructional weeks per semester in order for an institution to be eligible to receive financial aid. The academic year is then used to determine a student’s eligibility for FSA Pell Grant and Stanford loan awards. For FSA purposes, the academic year is defined in weeks of instructional time.

An academic year for a credit-hour or direct assessment program is defined as “at least 30 weeks of instructional time” (Academic Calendar, Payment Periods & Disbursements, 2009-2010, p. 3-2). The number of weeks of instructional time is based on the period that begins on the first day of classes in the academic year and ends on the last day of classes or exams. The 30 weeks must fall within two primary semesters and may not include an interim term. Going below the required 30 weeks at NMU would mean the loss of Pell Grant funding, which equaled just under $13 million for students this academic year. NMU currently has 31 weeks of classes and exams in our two primary semesters (16 weeks in the fall semester; 15 weeks in the winter semester).

The academic calendar for 2010-2011 has previously been approved by the Academic Senate and the Board of Trustees. The Ad Hoc Calendar Committee recommends approval of the attached academic calendars for 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and 2013-2014.