DVC switching to shorter semesters in 2018
February 9, 2017
Starting Fall 2018, Diablo Valley College will shorten its semesters from 18 to 16 weeks.
The United Faculty union that represents faculty members throughout the Contra Costa Community College District approved the change by a vote of 94 percent earlier on Thursday, Feb. 9th.
Working with the governing board of 4CD, faculty members concluded the compressed schedule should be able to help students stay in school and provide more funding.
The schedule change potentially allows more opportunities to take classes in the summer and also could create a winter semester.
A shorter semester would also benefit students who have families by allowing their school schedules to better match those of their children.
“In representing faculty I was really struck by how everybody’s concerns really were about what’s good for the students…People really weren’t talking about whether it’s good for me or not they were trying to figure out whether my students will do well in a shorter semester,” said UF Executive Director Jeffrey Michels.
The agreement will now go to the 4CD Governing Board where it will be ratified at the next meeting.
Micah Pearce • Feb 28, 2017 at 3:13 pm
At what time would we know if there will be a winter semester added to DVC? Is this a high probability or is this more of a hopeful outcome? Does this alter credit hours in anyway?
Isaac Norman • Feb 28, 2017 at 8:09 pm
Hi Micah,
Great questions! This is an ongoing story and the process between faculty and management regarding how the schedules will change is just beginning.
As a reporter with no hand in the decision making process I can’t speak for the governing bodies at DVC.
However as a speculator commenting online I don’t anticipate any official announcement about winter semesters being made in the next few months. If I had to guess I would say winter semesters have a good shot at being created but again it is way too early to tell and I am not in any position of authority to know one way or another. That being said this is a story we are monitoring so when we know our readers will know.
The credit hours should stay roughly the same because the school’s full time equivalent student (FTES) numbers are expected to remain the same but if you wanted a more definitive answer vice president of instruction Rachel Westlake would be a great person to talk to.
I hope this helps and thanks for taking the time to read the Inquirer!
-Isaac