Curricula at most colleges and universities in the United States are scheduled according to quarters or semesters. While each schedule has several potential advantages over the other, it is unclear what effect each has on student performance. This study compares biology student performance during the two and a half years before and after the 1999…

This document reports the results of a survey conducted to determine (1) the types of academic calendars being used in colleges and universities in the U.S.: and (2) the changes taking place. Six types of calendars are defined: the traditional semester calendar; the trimester calendar; the 4-1-4 calendar; and other calendars. The survey was very…

An intensive evaluation of the quarter system versus semester system as a method of operation at Western Wisconsin Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education District (Western Wisconsin Technical Institute) was conducted through student and faculty evaluation along with an analysis of the effects of the quarter system on other schools, agencies,…

This is a report of a survey of 48 Lutheran colleges and universities, 11 Lutheran seminaries, 20 Piedmont University Colleges, and 17 other colleges and universities. The Piedmont University College System is made up of several small institutions in North and South Carolina. The bulk of the report contains tabulated responses of each institution…

THIS SURVEY WAS DEVELOPED IN ORDER TO EXAMINE THE EDUCATIONAL AND FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY AND DESIRABILITY OF YEAR-ROUND OPERATION OF LOS ANGELES JUNIOR COLLEGES, TO EVALUATE THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS FOR CALENDAR CHANGE, TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEMS AND IMPLICATIONS OF IMPLEMENTATION, AND TO DESCRIBE THE ORDERLY STEPS REQUIRED FOR TRANSITION. MATERIALS WERE…

ANTICIPATING A CHANGE FROM A SEMESTER TO A QUARTER SYSTEM OF INSTRUCTION, CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SURVEYED 357 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (EACH WITH 3,000 OR MORE ENROLLED) TO DETERMINE THE TYPE OF INSTRUCTIONAL CALENDARS BEING USED, THE METHOD OF SCHEDULING EVENING CLASSES, THE NUMBER OF MEETINGS PER WEEK, AND THE LENGTH OF CLASS SESSIONS.…

Since the 1960s, many colleges and universities have shortened their school years. Driven by debate about the quality of undergraduate education and about whether students are getting their money's worth in college, some institutions are reexamining their academic calendars. Practical considerations, including student attendance patterns, make…

After reviewing types of college calendars (traditional semester, early semester, trimester, and quarter) and previous research on the use of various school calendars, this paper describes a survey conducted by Ocean County College, a medium-sized college currently using a traditional semester calendar, to determine the views of students, faculty,…

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…