Mandatory Winter Session proposed for struggling freshmen

At the Faculty Senate meeting Sept. 14, Provost Tom Apple proposed that it be mandatory for freshmen who do not do well the first semester to take classes during Winter Session.

He said this concept has already raised multiple questions and concerns from the faculty, as well as from students.

Apple said this plan would help ease students into their first year at college. If a student did not pass an introductory course for their major, he or she could take a course over Winter Session to better prepare them.

Deputy Provost Havidán Rodríguez described the potential required Winter Session as a second chance for students.

"Students would be able to make up some academic work, or simply to improve their GPAs by repeating a course in which they did not do so well in during the academic year. It is important to ease students into college and give them plenty of opportunities, especially over Winter Session," Rogriguez said. "The office of the deputy provost and the office of the vice president for student life are constantly configuring new ideas to develop more programs and chances for students to succeed."

Andrea Everard, associate professor of management information services, said students taking supplementary classes over winter session would ensure they learn the basics and are able to move forward in their area of study.

"The idea behind it is good because without core knowledge, they don't have the basics for the next 3 years," Everard said.

Apple said the program's main goal is to raise students' success from their first year until graduation.

Education professor Jan Blits said he is unsure whether grades for the perspective courses taken over winter session should count for credit. He said his major concerns about the program are grade inflation and student participation.

Blits also raised the issue of faculty availability.

"Staffing the extra classes would be a serious problem because there isn't that kind of slack in the faculty," he said.

Philosophy professor Kate Rogers said she believes college students are ready to be adults and they should be responsible enough to take their classes seriously.

"There is a balance between helping a student and making students do something," Rogers said.

Since the idea is still at the very first stages of discussion, Apple said there will not be any immediate enactment. Once more details arise, students and faculty will be advised and possible options will be presented.