4-1-4 Calendar FAQs

What will the new academic calendar be?

Mercyhurst’s new calendar is known as the 4-­‐1-­‐4 calendar. These numbers represent the number of months in each term. The fall (September-­‐December) and spring (February-­‐May) terms will each be about 14 weeks long. There’s also a 3-­‐ week term in January – called a J-­‐term (January term). The calendar is essentially a semester calendar with a short session between the fall and winter term.

When will the new schedule start?

We’ll move to the 4-­‐1-­‐4 calendar for the 2013-­‐14 academic year. For 2012-­‐13, we’ll continue to operate on trimesters while working out all the details of the transition.

How many courses will I take in each term?

You’ll still need to take 10 courses per academic year. They’ll usually be split up 5-­‐1-­‐ 4, 4-­‐1-­‐5 or 5-­‐0-­‐5.

How long will the classes be?

Class sessions during the spring and fall will be significantly shorter than they are under the trimester system. Classes offered MWF will be 65 minutes long and classes on TTh will be 100 minutes long. Under the trimester system, Mercyhurst has the longest undergraduate classes of any college in America – 90 minutes (MWF) and 130 minutes (TTh).

Do I have to take a course during the J-­‐term?

All students starting in the fall of 2013 will be required to take at least two J-­‐term courses, including one during the freshman year. (You can choose to take a J-­‐term course every year if you like.) If you don’t take a J-­‐term course, you’ll split your classes 5-­‐0-­‐5. For current students it is likely to vary based on what you need to graduate in your major. Your advisor will help you with this.

Do any other colleges/universities use a 4-­‐1-­‐4 system?

Almost all American colleges use some version of the semester system. As a matter of fact, only two other colleges in the whole country still use a trimester system like the one Mercyhurst now uses, and one of them is switching to semesters next year.

Many top-­‐ranked colleges have adopted the J-­‐term, too, including NYU, the University of Virginia, Harvard, Case and Bucknell.

What kind of courses will be offered during the J-­‐term?

You’ll take one focused, intensive class during the J-­‐term. Some regular courses (major or core) will be offered during the J-­‐term, but the emphasis will be on creative and unconventional courses that will likely only be offered during the short term. You’ll be able to learn in depth a particular problem, question, issue or technical skill. The J-­‐term is well suited for courses involving travel, student research and internship experiences.

What’s wrong with the trimester system?

The biggest concern is that trimesters don’t provide the best environment for student learning. One of our trimester courses is equivalent to one semester course at another school. That means teachers have to cover material that would typically take 14 to 15 weeks in just 10 weeks, and the fast pace of instruction may make it difficult for students to absorb and digest everything. It also means that class meetings have to be much longer. Research suggests that students learn more and retain information better when they receive it in shorter increments.

Under trimesters, Mercyhurst is also out of sync with most other colleges, which can cause problems for athletics, study abroad, student housing, internships, transfers and other programs. Trimesters also cause an awkward schedule of breaks. For example, the two-­‐week Christmas break interrupts the winter term and Mercyhurst’s spring break falls in late February and early March, well earlier than most other schools.

How will the calendar change affect my bill?

Beginning in 2013, your bill will be due in two installments instead of three.

Currently, you can take up to 36 credits per year (12 per term) at the flat billing rate.

Under the new calendar, you can still take up to 36 credits per year (18 per term). If you take a course during J-­‐term, the cost will be included in either the fall or spring bill. Your financial aid will be applied to your account in two installments as well.

Will I still be able to graduate in four years?

Yes! All the academic departments are in the process of restructuring their course sequences to allow majors to finish on time. During the transition to the new calendar, if you believe that the change is directly preventing you from graduating on time, you can ask for a special review of your case.

Who made the decision to change the calendar?

The Mercyhurst Board of Trustees approved the change at its meeting on May 5, 2012. Faculty Senate in conjunction with the Office of Academic Affairs, has been spearheading the drive for change. A Faculty Senate Task Force presented the plan

that was eventually approved. The Task Force heard input from everyone involved, including faculty, students, and administrative departments. The plan was approved by the Dean’s Council and College Council before going to the Board of Trustees.

Did the change to university status force us to change the calendar?

No. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) doesn’t require a university to adopt any particular calendar. However, while reviewing Mercyhurst’s application to become a university, PDE pointed out that we were not offering enough contact hours in our courses. As a result, we had to add 10 minutes to the length of each class. This made our class times the longest in the entire country. This puts students at a disadvantage as it has been proven that individuals learn better in shorter bursts. The long class times were actually a hindrance to student learning.

Fixing this issue was, at the end of the day, the primary motivation for the change to the 4-­‐1-­‐4. The new calendar will shorten class times and alleviate this issue.

What about the North East Campus?

The North East campus and the entire College of Associate Degrees has been given the opportunity to develop a calendar system that works best for them. The administration and the board recognized that students who attend the North East campus have unique situations and learning needs. Their calendar system, which has yet to be determined, will not be a trimester system and will begin and end with the rest of the university.