McMath suggests freshman summer session

The administration is considering the possibility of beginning a late summer session in which it would offer core courses for incoming freshmen.

Robert McMath, vice provost for Undergraduate Studies and Academic Affairs, will be making a recommendation to President Clough and to Provost Jean-Lou Chameau that the session be implemented for incoming freshmen only.

The proposed session would begin in mid-June and last seven weeks, ending the first week of August, at the same time as the current summer semester. It would not take the place of the already existing short session, which is also seven weeks long and begins at the same time as the summer semester. The Ivan Allen College currently offers most of the courses available during this short session; in the proposed late summer session, a greater number of core courses in other colleges and schools would be offered.

The administration has permitted entering freshmen to take classes during the summer before coming to Tech. "In the past it had been valuable," McMath said.

Before it switched to the semester system in August 1998, the University System of Georgia operated on the quarter system. Under this calendar, it had been possible for incoming freshmen to take courses during the summer. After the switch to the semester system, this was no longer possible because the summer semester would often begin before high school graduations took place.

McMath said that the advantages of the late summer session are analogous to those of the previously offered session. When the opportunity was available in the past, according to McMath, incoming freshmen had reported that taking courses in the summer helped prepare them for Tech. Completing some core courses in the summer also slightly reduced their workloads in the first term, he added.

Another benefit from Tech's standpoint, McMath said, is that introductory classes such as General Chemistry (1310) and English 1101 could be less dense. If some incoming freshmen take these courses during the summer, it would be much easier for students entering in the fall to get into certain classes.

After Tech began considering whether or not to offer the late session, a survey was conducted to decide whether or not the program would still appeal to new students. Incoming freshmen were asked whether they would be interested in participating if the program were available to them. Students who had finished their first year at Tech were asked if they would have participated in such a program, and if they would recommend it to new students. The majority of the students surveyed supported the idea.

"It's a great idea. It would have been nice to get acclimated. I don't think it's right for everyone, though," Gopika Suraj, a second-year Chemical Engineering major, said.

Most upperclassmen expressed agreement.

"I definitely think it is a great idea. It will make the initial shock of meeting people and getting used to the surroundings a lot easier and less scary once school really starts in the fall," Kirsten Lundstrom, a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering major, said.

The faculty and senate need to be briefed before the short session can be instated, but it does not need approval because it does not involve new courses or majors.

McMath indicated that he expects the program to be approved by the beginning of fall semester, and students entering in Fall 2006 will be able to participate in the short session.

"We think it would attract 300-400 students," McMath said. "Students will be advised to take a maximum of two courses. They will still be able to participate in Freshmen Experience and take GT1000 during the summer session."

The Ivan Allen College and the College of Sciences are both willing to offer a number of courses for the short session. Courses that are likely to be offered include General Chemistry, introductory economics courses, history and political science courses, English 1101 and GT1000.

It is unlikely that calculus will be offered. According to McMath, the School of Mathematics may offer a precalculus course instead, for students who feel they are not yet ready for calculus.

If all goes well, McMath said, the late summer short session could be expanded to include returning students. Students who participate in study abroad, for example, could participate in the short session if they returned in time.