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Winter Intersession Proposal

For some time we have been thinking of adding a winter intersession to our academic calendar.  Set forth below is a draft proposal for discussion.  The proposed calendar, which includes a winter intersession, attempts to comply with IHL policy which requires 2450 contact minutes and a set number of weeks. The IHL mandate of 2450 minutes of class time in a semester is unusually high.  Our research indicates that it is higher than our counterparts; e.g. the University of Kentucky has 2400 contact minutes, the University of South Carolina has 2100 contact minutes, and the University of Tennessee has 2175.  I have included below a list of institutions with the beginning and end dates for the semester and contact minutes when known. I am taking steps to determine whether IHL might permit us to reduce the number of contact minutes for our classes, but, in the event that such a reduction is not possible, I have asked the University registrar to prepare a proposed calendar for 2004 that would permit us to offer a winter intersession.

There are several rationales for a winter intersession. It will provide:

  1. Opportunities for students to take a course for enrichment;
  2. Opportunities for students to take a course for remediation, particularly if they had done poorly in the course in the first semester, and the course was part of a two-semester sequence;
  3. Opportunities for student internships;
  4. Opportunities for study abroad, as well as educational and research trips;
  5. A block of time for faculty who wish to focus on research; and
  6. An opportunity for faculty members who wish to earn additional compensation. With regard to this last matter, payment for the academic year would cover work done in the fall and spring term.  The winter intersession and the spring intersession (as it currently is) would provide additional compensation for faculty.

Although the proposed calendar set forth below does comply with the mandated 2450 contact minutes, our hope is that we can prevail upon IHL to reduce those contact minutes to be more in line with sister institutions. This proposal is currently under review by the Faculty Senate and I am awaiting a response from that body before presenting this issue to the Council of Academic Administrators.

Carolyn Ellis Staton

Provost
February 10, 2003
 
 

Proposed Calendar for Winter Intersession, Spring Term, and Spring Intersession, 2004

Winter Intersession 2004

Classes begin Friday January 2
Classes end Friday January 16
Examinations Saturday January 17

Classes meet for 3 hours January 2 through January 16. Final examination period of 3 hours on January 17.

Spring Term 2004

Classes begin Tuesday January 20
Classes end Friday May 7
Examinations M-F May 10-14
Commencement Saturday May 15

MWF classes must meet on Saturday, January 24, and Saturday, January 31.

Spring Intersession

Classes begin Monday May 17
Classes end Saturday May 29
Examinations Tuesday June 1

Classes meet for 3 hours and 15 minutes. Final examination may conclude in 2 hours.

Table Comparing Spring 2003 Calendars of Other Institutions with University of Mississippi Calendar for the Same Period

Institution
Term
Classes Begin
Classes End
Contact Minutes
U. Miss.
Spr. 2003
Jan. 8
May 2
2450
U. Alabama
Spr. 2003
Jan. 8
May 2
No response
U. Ark.
Spr. 2003
Jan. 13
May 1
No clue
Auburn
Spr. 2003
Jan. 8
April 30
No response
U. Florida
Spr. 2003
Jan. 6
April 23
No policy
U. Georgia
Spr. 2003
Jan. 9
May 1
No response
U. Kentucky
Spr. 2003
Jan. 15
May 2
2400
Louisiana State U.
Spr. 2003
Jan. 21
May 10
No response
U. S. Carolina
Spr. 2003
Jan. 13
April 30
2100
U. Tenn.
Spr. 2003
Jan. 13
April 30
2175
Vanderbilt
Spr. 2003
Jan. 8
April 22
No response

 

 

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