Changing to a 16-week format is not a good idea. This is not about student success as it is a money issue.

This is not the first time we have considered compressing the academic calendar before and what came out of it was not a compression of the 17-weeks, but the days we attended class (MWF vs TTH) format. DVC chose the TTH format not because it would benefit students, but because it was the “sweet spot” in which the state paid the college.

Ever wonder why classes end at 15 past the hour? The state will not pay for a quarter of an hour but will round up. Needless to say, we have not had any serious benefit from it, especially if you are a science major. Going into a 16-week (15-weeks for class time and the 16th week is finals) will most likely increase the drop out rate more so now because of the repeatability rules that passed.

The big question that needs to be addressed is what is wrong with the current system now? What we will hear is that other community colleges are doing it, and that we are behind the times…but are we really? This is more about keeping costs down and less classes being offered. It’s about money and not student success.

– Francisco Hinojosa, Neuroscience