The Educational Programs and Curriculum Committee’s idea of reducing the number of interterm requirements is evolving within the committee, but has not yet been taken to Baker University’s Faculty Senate.
“We have a consensus, but not a vote, that we are going to recommend reducing (interterm requirements) to one,” EPC Chairman Jacob Bucher said. “The thing that’s holding it up is, even though as a committee we agree … we want it to be a very thorough process.”
Last year, the faculty senate commissioned an ad-hoc committee made up of faculty, staff and a student representative.
The committee evaluated student surveys over interterm and came up with three recommendations.
The committee recommended the number of interterms be reduced from three terms to two terms, professors offer catalogue courses during interterm and that interterm courses should be allowed to be graded.
“The surveys were telling us that there was sentiment among both students and faculty for revision for potentially a reduction in the number of requirements, or some flexibility in how one might interpret the use of interterms,” Judy Smrha, assistant dean for student engagement and success, said.
The recommendations were presented to EPC, where the idea is still being considered.
EPC is discussing a reduction of the number of interterms from three to one, and that students would be required to take the interterm in their first 12 months at Baker.
Transfer students would be required to enroll in an interterm course their first year on campus.
“Students are more likely to come back in the spring if they come to interterm, especially freshmen. It’s their first time away from home. They’re here for the fall, they go back home for Christmas, and they might not want to come back,” Bucher said. “So the idea is if we can get them back on site, then that’ll make them want to finish, and there’s data to support that. We think by requiring it once, but giving students options their other three years at Baker, it’s almost like summer school, so you can take it if you want … but you don’t have to.”
An exception to this requirement may occur in specific departments, such as the business or education department.
“In the education program, they use interterm as a place to offer a class that really can only be done then,” Smrha said. “And so, all education students (have to) take probably two courses … that are education specific, because that’s the only time to do it, because that’s when it’s offered. I think there will be other programs (that) might do that … because it’s kind of part of the deal.”
Smrha said the idea is a compromise between the many voices and opinion of faculty and students.
Sophomore Michael Preut doesn’t mind the current requirements of three interterms, but can see the advantage for other students.
“I like the idea of interterm, and I know that some people don’t necessary like it, but I don’t really see the problem in having three of them. I mean, it’s not that large of a commitment,” Preut said. “If it does pass, I think some people will like it, especially the ones who don’t like coming back early from winter break in order to do interterm.”
The reduction in number of interterms required is still in the EPC committee stage. Once the committee votes on the idea, it will be taken to faculty senate, and on to the Baker University Board of Trustees.
