Answering questions about changes to CASC and CORE
CASC to vote on changing to four-credit system October vote slated for CORE alterations
Hailey Hawkins
Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: News
Today, Thursday, Sept. 25, Pacific University faculty will be voting on whether to alter Pacific's current academic schedule away from three credits to a four-credit system.
Currently, students can take a variety of classes ranging from one to four credits each, with the average student taking five three-credit classes, adding up to an average of 15 credits per semester.
Proposed revisions
Under the revised system, students would be taking four four-credit classes, or 16 credits per semester.
Though classes would increase by a full fifty minutes per week, most students would be taking one less class.
"A lot of peer liberal arts colleges have already gone to a 4-credit system," said Dave DeMoss, professor of Philosophy at Pacific. "It's good for students, because the whole idea is that students will take fewer courses in one semester, but go deeper in those courses, and spend more time with faculty outside of class."
Curriculum changes must be approved by CASC
DeMoss is a former member of the Pacific University College of Arts and Sciences Council, and is also a half-time associate dean.
CASC, which is responsible for any curriculum proposals and changes at Pacific, is comprised of the undergraduate community's current dean, and the four division heads (humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and the arts).
Last year DeMoss, as the former humanities division head, took significant charge over CASC's proposal for the four-credit shift.
Though his most recent three-year tenure as a member of CASC is over, DeMoss has continued to carry the proposal through this year, shaping it and pitching it to the faculty and administration with the help of Sarah Phillips, fellow half-time associate dean, as well as Steve Smith, full-time associate dean.
Approving the proposal
In order for CASC's proposal to be approved, it must go before the faculty of arts and sciences.
Today's vote will be the deciding factor.
Currently, students can take a variety of classes ranging from one to four credits each, with the average student taking five three-credit classes, adding up to an average of 15 credits per semester.
Proposed revisions
Under the revised system, students would be taking four four-credit classes, or 16 credits per semester.
Though classes would increase by a full fifty minutes per week, most students would be taking one less class.
"A lot of peer liberal arts colleges have already gone to a 4-credit system," said Dave DeMoss, professor of Philosophy at Pacific. "It's good for students, because the whole idea is that students will take fewer courses in one semester, but go deeper in those courses, and spend more time with faculty outside of class."
Curriculum changes must be approved by CASC
DeMoss is a former member of the Pacific University College of Arts and Sciences Council, and is also a half-time associate dean.
CASC, which is responsible for any curriculum proposals and changes at Pacific, is comprised of the undergraduate community's current dean, and the four division heads (humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and the arts).
Last year DeMoss, as the former humanities division head, took significant charge over CASC's proposal for the four-credit shift.
Though his most recent three-year tenure as a member of CASC is over, DeMoss has continued to carry the proposal through this year, shaping it and pitching it to the faculty and administration with the help of Sarah Phillips, fellow half-time associate dean, as well as Steve Smith, full-time associate dean.
Approving the proposal
In order for CASC's proposal to be approved, it must go before the faculty of arts and sciences.
Today's vote will be the deciding factor.
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