It may sound a bit early to begin planning for summer classes, but West Virginia University has been making changes to its summer sessions and is anxious to spread the news.
Included in the improvements are more options for class length, optimized use of WVU facilities, timely grade results and flexible summer sessions.
Classes will be offered for one, two, three, six, and 12-week spans rather than the standard 6-week classes.
Summer 2006 will also be one term with two sessions, A and B, instead of the Summer I and Summer II. It will serve as a transition year to Summer 2007 which will be one summer term with flexible course lengths.
Dean of Extended Learning Sue Day-Perroots said the idea behind the changes amount to giving students and professors more flexibility.
“The one-term concept provides greater flexibility for students and faculty. It will be easier for students to identify courses for their academic program when planning their summers,she said.
In Summer 2006, Session A begins May 22 and continues through June 30. Courses during the session may begin at any time and vary in length from 1 to 12 weeks. Session B starts on July 3 and runs through Aug. 11, and courses in Session B will begin on or after July 3.
Undergraduate students can register for seven credit hours per session; those who want to register for 8-9 hours need approval from the Associate Deans Office of their respective major. Registering for more than nine credit hours requires permission from the Associate Provosts Office.
In previous years, students would only be able to use certain facilities during their summer session. In Summer 2006, students who have registered and paid appropriate tuition and fees will have access to the Rec Center, Health Services, Mountainlair, WVU libraries and other facilities throughout both sessions.
In addition, grades will be posted as classes are completed as opposed to the end of each summer session.
The transition to a one-term summer session will be complete by Summer 2007, allowing for 1- to 12-week courses across the entire session.
Online registration for summer begins March 20; course listings will be available in early spring.