The Observer, February 8, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 16
New May term will provide intensive learning experience
Case's new early summer courses mean that students can spend three weeks in France or Italy – and earn credit for it.
The three-week intensive "May term" will begin at the conclusion of the spring term and conclude at the beginning of the summer session. Most classes will take place May 12- 30, with the sessions abroad adding three extra days for travel. Classes will be in session Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. until noon, with the exception of the Memorial Day holiday observed on May 26. Currently, eight classes are scheduled to be taught. The official roster of the courses will be posted next Friday on the searchable schedule of classes available on the Case website. Students may begin registering for the courses March 31.
Many of the classes offered in the May term, such as Business Chinese or The Paris Experience, are not offered during the regular school year. The new term provides students with the opportunity to engage in events that take place within Cleveland and outside of the community – the Field Introduction to Geology course will have field trips to places in Ohio, Indiana, and the Appalachians. Two language immersion classes will be offered in Paris, France, and Urbino, Italy.
All of the May term courses are taught by regular Case faculty. Case teachers have constructed the curriculum to take advantage of the longer meeting times provided for each class.
Undergraduate Student Government and dean Molly Berger worked closely on the implementation of the May term. After many months of deliberation, they decided to finally launch the program last October. The idea for the May term was adapted from a winter term, or an intensive semester before the spring term begins, that many liberal arts schools employ.
Cornell University is among the number of schools that utilize the winter session. Cornell administers classes on their campus as well as distance learning courses during the winter session. The session is approximately three weeks long, taking place from Dec. 26 until Jan. 19. Students have the ability to earn up to four credits.
Case students can expect tuition rates for the courses to be similar to the rates they might expect for summer session courses. For students who enrolled at Case in fall 2006 or later, summer undergraduate tuition is $684 per credit hour. For all other students, including visitors who have enrolled prior to fall 2006, summer undergraduate tuition is $665 per credit hour.
David Poerschke, USG vice president of Academic Affairs, stated that the creation of the May term had nothing to do with increasing financial revenue for the school. Poerschke mentioned the school rarely administers such semesters, including the summer session, to generate a large profit. The semesters are instead administered to satiate student interest.
To date, there is a great deal of student interest in the May term. When the idea for the term was initiated, only five courses were going to be offered, but interest from students has already increased that number to eight.
