Baker University juniors, sophomores and freshmen are no longer required to take three interterms in order to graduate after the Baker University Faculty Senate voted to reduce the required graduation hours from 132 to 129 and three interterms to two.
The initial reduction of the hours and interterms took place at a previous Faculty Senate meeting, however it applied specifically to incoming freshmen. During the April 3 meeting, the senate approved a motion from the Educational Programs and Curriculum Committee that will allow current students to follow these new requirements, meaning current Baker students will no longer need three interterms or 132 hours.
However, seniors planning to walk at graduation in May and finish their coursework in the summer will not be able to take advantage of the reduction.
“It will begin in the fall,” University Registrar Ruth Miller said. “So if you’re graduating in May or summer, we’ll still want to see 132 hours.”
Erin Joyce, assistant dean for liberal studies, said although students are not required to take more than two interterm courses, they are still encouraged to participate in an interterm if they are inclined to do so.
“Nothing is barring students from taking more than two interterms,” Joyce said. “We hope that students will continue to be engaged in interterm experiences and take advantage of these unique courses.”
Of the Six travel interterms were approved for January 2013, four have been previously offered. These courses include New Orleans: The Big Easy Combo Tour, Spanish in Salemanca, Spain, Yucatan Encounter and The History of our Nation’s Capital.
Two new travel interterms were also approved. The Peruvian Amazon by Riverboat and Modern Celebrity and the Monarchy in Britain will be available for students to take in January.
One new travel interterm, The Economics of Beer: Britain, Belgium, and Germany was approved for summer 2013.
Joyce said these travel interterms give students the opportunity to enjoy the advantages of studying abroad in a short amount of time.
“It simply allows students to receive academic credit for traveling abroad and experiencing something amazing,” Joyce said. “Any travel abroad experience can be life-changing, and to be able to do it through Baker over interterm with our excellent faculty members is a great opportunity.”
The senate also approved a recommendation from the EPC that will help students studying through the Harlaxton program in Grantham, England, complete their requirements for the new Quest program. The six hours of British Studies students take at Harlaxton will count for QS 212: Ideas and Expression.
“The committee feels that the courses meet the outcomes of QS 212 and would allow more students the opportunity to study in Harlaxton,” EPC Chair Jacob Bucher said.
