This document provides an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of five different academic calendars, including: traditional semester, early semester, quarter, trimester, and "4-1-4." The present California State Code defines the academic year of the California Community Colleges as 175 days, based on the K-12 standard. This…

A trend toward adoption of the early-semester calendar, which runs from August to May with exams before Christmas vacation is discussed, along with other changes in college scheduling for curriculum development, increased efficiency, student job scheduling, student retention, and decreased paperwork. (MSE)

In 1976, a study determined that student retention had increased markedly following Barstow College's transition from a semester to a quarter system. In 1979, another study was conducted to determine: (1) the accuracy of the 1976 figures; (2) the effect of the shortness of the time period considered in the 1976 study on its reliability; (3) the…

This annotated bibliography is a selected listing of 11 books and pamphlets, three dissertations, and 31 articles on year-round school programs published since 1962. The documents listed explore the effects on cost and educational quality of (1) staggered quarter plans, (2) quarter system plans, (3) staggered trimester plans, (4) split trimester…

This book presents detailed descriptions of alternative types of block schedules and discusses their effects on teachers and students. The book shows administrators how to organize their schools so that time enhances instruction and fosters learning. Chapter 1 discusses problems with the traditional high school schedule and chapter 2 provides…

In an effort to determine the most effective school calendar system, a task force was formed at Pennsylvania's Reading Area Community College to examine the advantages and disadvantages of converting from the college's current term calendar to a semester system. The task force examined the experiences of 11 other institutions that had undergone…

A study was conducted at San Joaquin Delta College (SJDC) to determine whether its present calendar, based on the traditional semester system, should be abandoned in favor of either the quarter or the early semester calendars. The study involved: (1) contacting employers to determine the effect of a calendar change on student employment, (2)…

This report analyzes 1979 spring term enrollment data for all 39 Illinois Community College Districts (whether on the quarter or semester system) and winter quarter enrollments for the five districts on the quarter system and compares these data with similar figures for 1974 through 1978. Information is organized in 14 data tables in terms of…

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) converted from a quarter to semester calendar at the beginning of the 1988-89 academic year. A study was conducted after the first year of the use of the new calendar to determine its effects on enrollment and student persistence. Full- and part-time enrollment data and student retention rates for…

In order to determine whether there were compelling reasons for Schenectady County Community College (SCCC) to change its quarter calendar, and which calendar would be most appropriate to the college and most responsive to the problems that made the change seem desirable, previous calendar change studies were reviewed and administrators of…

This update is designed to provide information on the conversion in the Atlanta public school system from a quarter to a semester plan. The major tasks, the semester schedule, and the recommended grading system are all outlined. A section on kindergarten provides material on proposed curriculum and support materials, the suggested weekly block of…

This two-part report discusses the implementation of the four-day week on college campuses and summarizes the results of a survey conducted to investigate: (1) the history of the four-day college week in Texas; (2) how Texas colleges using this system integrate their operations into the four-day week; and (3) the future acceptance of the four-day…

The experiences of a variety of postsecondary institutions using different academic calendar options are examined. Several calendar options are described: the traditional semester, the early semester, 4-1-4, the quarter system, the trimester plan, composite plans, and year-round plans. The traditional semester calendar begins in mid-September and…

This paper compares student headcount enrollment and full-time enrollment prior to and following transition to a semester calendar at 75 public colleges in three state systems: Alabama, Georgia, and Utah. Before and after effects on enrollment in the transition colleges are examined and compared with colleges that did not make the transition. In…

Looks at the trend toward the early-start semester calendar in American colleges and universities, and examines administrative, pedagogical, and fiscal considerations in making the change from a quarter system. Topics discussed include the impact on the curriculum and instruction, summer session, access, enrollment management, and institutional…