Shortened academic terms—such as eight-week courses and winter break sessions—show varying rates of success at a group of colleges and universities examined in a new analysis.
One institution saw stronger student outcomes in eight-week courses than full-semester classes. But students did not fare as well in even more intensive three-week courses, according to the latest AACRAO study, which collected results and insights from nine diverse institutions.
The report, which refers to the wide range of compressed courses as “shortened part of term” or SPOT classes, notes that institutions offer these sessions to accelerate degree completion, accommodate nontraditional learners and working professionals, and the use of campus resources more efficiently. But outcomes vary based on demographics, class content and the level of institutional support.
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Some of the challenges that schools have encountered include setting a schedule that incorporates traditional and shortened academic terms, finding classrooms for courses that require labs or other specialized facilities and managing faculty workloads. Schools also struggled to create sequential class pairings across different parts of the term.
Here are some of the ways the colleges and universities in the AACRAO study are pushing for better outcomes:
1. Prevent learner overload: Some institutions do not allow students to enroll in more than one shortened course at a time or they limit the total credits they can accrue in the classes.
2. Specialized advising: Schools now dedicate advisors or “learner-success managers” to guide students in accelerated courses.
3. Online program design: Administrators have designed their online programs around shortened courses to provide flexibility for working professionals and other learners.
4. Managing demand: Several institutions offered popular courses in traditional and shortened formats to provide wider access.
The report also recommends that institutions:
- Develop comprehensive faculty-training programs for shortened academic terms
- Implement clear communication strategies for learners
- Invest in advanced scheduling and analytics software
