Reporting done by Lindsay Hinmon
As each semester begins the faculty and staff of BYU-Hawaii gathers for what’s known as the Ohana meeting to discuss upcoming changes in the university. At the heart of this year’s meeting were four key elements.
1. The Academic Calendar is Changing
It’s official. Rather than try to squeeze a full course into seven summer weeks, or 14 weeks with a five week break in the middle as the University has been doing with the model of Summer A and B, BYU-Hawaii has opted for a model with three equal semesters. Fall term will begin in August, Winter in November, and Spring in March with a seven week break before the following Fall semester commences. Several reasons were given for this shift in the Ohana meeting.
As each semester begins the faculty and staff of BYU-Hawaii gathers for what’s known as the Ohana meeting to discuss upcoming changes in the university. At the heart of this year’s meeting were four key elements.
1. The Academic Calendar is Changing
It’s official. Rather than try to squeeze a full course into seven summer weeks, or 14 weeks with a five week break in the middle as the University has been doing with the model of Summer A and B, BYU-Hawaii has opted for a model with three equal semesters. Fall term will begin in August, Winter in November, and Spring in March with a seven week break before the following Fall semester commences. Several reasons were given for this shift in the Ohana meeting.
One of BYU-Hawaii’s goals is to balance enrollment for all three semesters, rather than have such an empty campus in Summer. With the Summer semester now functioning the same as the other two the hope is that the semesters will be equally appealing to students. A second advantage to the new schedule is that the seven week break will coincide with the Hawaii public school system, giving professors time off with family. This allows for BYU-Hawaii to be more competitive in its search for highly qualified faculty members. In this new model the school will hold three graduations each year, doing away with the awkward situation wherein students walk in a graduation ceremony before finishing classes.
For more information about the decision making process for the calendar shift, click here.
For the 2014-2015 calendar click here, the 2015-2016 calendar click here, and for a clear explanation of how the summer semester in the transition year will work, click here.
2. Online Classes
BYU-Hawaii is expanded options for online instruction available to students. The goal discussed in this semester’s Ohana meeting is for 20% of the credit hours students earned by the student body at large to be earned in online instruction. This means some students could choose to take many online classes while others may opt for face to face instruction, however, some classes (such as the Digital Tools and the introductory Photography class in the art department) are only offered online. In the Ohana meeting, the methods of instruction were categorized thusly:
For more information about the decision making process for the calendar shift, click here.
For the 2014-2015 calendar click here, the 2015-2016 calendar click here, and for a clear explanation of how the summer semester in the transition year will work, click here.
2. Online Classes
BYU-Hawaii is expanded options for online instruction available to students. The goal discussed in this semester’s Ohana meeting is for 20% of the credit hours students earned by the student body at large to be earned in online instruction. This means some students could choose to take many online classes while others may opt for face to face instruction, however, some classes (such as the Digital Tools and the introductory Photography class in the art department) are only offered online. In the Ohana meeting, the methods of instruction were categorized thusly:
While students and teachers alike have varied opinions regarding the efficacy and value of online instruction, there is another issue with this shift. For those students receiving financial aid from the US government, online only enrollment must remain below 50% in order for students to be eligible to receive aid. The 20% goal put forth by the school keeps students well within the range of eligibility, however, plans for a more extensive online curriculum wherein students could still receive aid were mentioned briefly in the Ohana meeting.
For more detailed and specific information regarding this shift, click here.
3. A Shift in General Education Curriculum
The university has now begun a transition phase wherein the GEs mandated for students are changing. This transition will be complete in the 2015 academic year. The process is a revision, not an expansion of the existing GE curriculum. There will not be more coursework mandated, but some of the required classes have been switched for new options. This is done in an effort to focus on core skills and knowledge with a particular focus on information literacy. It was also mentioned that the entirety of GE coursework will need to be able to be taught online to allow for flexibility when students are scheduling.
The new GE program will only be mandatory for incoming students. Existing students who would prefer to switch over to the new GE options are welcome to do so. Details regarding that transition process are currently being put into place and will be made available in the coming weeks. Stay tuned and keep your eyes open for the new information!
For more information on the GE review process, in motion since 2011, click here.
4. Campus Construction
As students are aware, the housing facilities on campus are undergoing extensive renovation. With new Hales seven, eight, nine and ten completed, hales three and five are now under construction. It was explained that the roof of Hale three was originally constructed in cement and ranges from eight to 14 inches thick. (This explains the intense jackhammering sounds dominating that quadrant of campus the past few months.) With the weight of the cement roof removed, the existing walls and foundation reportedly will be able to support another full story and new roof, no problem. Third stories and all renovations are scheduled to be complete in time for Fall semester 2015. The work is reported to be on schedule and in budget.
When the reconstruction efforts of Hales three and five are complete the university plans to move residents in Hales four and six to the newly renovated buildings, then commence renovations to what are currently the only male hales on campus. This relocation is scheduled to take place mid semester of Fall 2015.
For more detailed and specific information regarding this shift, click here.
3. A Shift in General Education Curriculum
The university has now begun a transition phase wherein the GEs mandated for students are changing. This transition will be complete in the 2015 academic year. The process is a revision, not an expansion of the existing GE curriculum. There will not be more coursework mandated, but some of the required classes have been switched for new options. This is done in an effort to focus on core skills and knowledge with a particular focus on information literacy. It was also mentioned that the entirety of GE coursework will need to be able to be taught online to allow for flexibility when students are scheduling.
The new GE program will only be mandatory for incoming students. Existing students who would prefer to switch over to the new GE options are welcome to do so. Details regarding that transition process are currently being put into place and will be made available in the coming weeks. Stay tuned and keep your eyes open for the new information!
For more information on the GE review process, in motion since 2011, click here.
4. Campus Construction
As students are aware, the housing facilities on campus are undergoing extensive renovation. With new Hales seven, eight, nine and ten completed, hales three and five are now under construction. It was explained that the roof of Hale three was originally constructed in cement and ranges from eight to 14 inches thick. (This explains the intense jackhammering sounds dominating that quadrant of campus the past few months.) With the weight of the cement roof removed, the existing walls and foundation reportedly will be able to support another full story and new roof, no problem. Third stories and all renovations are scheduled to be complete in time for Fall semester 2015. The work is reported to be on schedule and in budget.
When the reconstruction efforts of Hales three and five are complete the university plans to move residents in Hales four and six to the newly renovated buildings, then commence renovations to what are currently the only male hales on campus. This relocation is scheduled to take place mid semester of Fall 2015.
Did you know you can attend the President's Council and voice your opinions and questions directly to the administration? Check out our events calendar for more information.