Term III

Elmira College has something of a unique academic calendar.  We have two 12-week terms and a 6-week term.  Our fall term concludes around the same time as a regular semester, in mid-December, just before the winter holidays.  Winter Term begins the second week in January and extends until the second week in April.    After a week-long spring break, Term III begins.

The good:  Term III is idea for travel courses.  It is a great time to travel, wherever students are headed.  Unlike some schools that have a J-term sandwiched between the fall and winter semesters, Term III extends from mid-April until just after Memorial Day.

The not-so-good: as a College, we haven't figured out what to do with Term III beyond the travel courses.  Students in professional programs such as Nursing or Education do their clinical work and student teaching during this term, and the rest of us offer interesting, off-beat interdisciplinary courses that we wouldn't otherwise be able to offer.

Sounds great in theory.  In practice, it's not so good.  Students typically see Term III as  a chance to have a good time, and some faculty are all too willing to oblige.  In short, it's not perceived as a good term for serious work to get done.

Oh well, enough kvetching about Term III for now.  After all, I have to finish preparing for my course "Zombies in Philosophy and Literature" that starts tomorrow.