Mark Rosenberg, chancellor for the Florida public university system, is encouraging the state's public universities to offer a full curriculum throughout the entire calendar year, arguing that the switch to year-round education would enable students to graduate faster, increase graduation and retention rates and more efficiently utilize state facilities.
Rosenberg has looked to Dartmouth as well as at other schools that have attempted year-round operation in planning the logistics of a year-round curriculum model, but notes that Florida is not looking to adopt a quarter system like Dartmouth's academic calendar.
By 2011, Florida's public universities are expected to enroll an additional 65,000 students each year. To accommodate the influx of new pupils, the state has considered increased legislative funding to build physical spaces on campus as well as the possible implementation of a year-round system.
Instituting a summer term is part of a wider effort to make better use of the university's facilities and to improve student engagement in classes. This summer, more than 176,000 students -- about 60 percent of students -- are enrolled in classes in Florida's 11 public universities.
"Our challenge is to expand summer services in an efficient manner," Rosenberg said. "The leadership at [our universities] must be willing to consider offering more robust summer offerings."
In 2003, George Washington University attempted to implement a mandatory summer session and four-course, four-credit system, but ultimately decided that the switch would not provide enough downtime for students and faculty.
Colgate University implemented a program similar to Dartmouth's summer term to solve a severe housing crunch in the early 1970s. After eight years, Colgate ended the summer term and built new residence halls.
Dartmouth Provost Barry Scherr believes that Dartmouth's quarter calendar is largely what makes the sophomore summer a success.
"I think that a year-round schedule could work for other schools, though my sense is that it is somewhat easier to implement with a quarter system rather than a semester calendar," Scherr said.
At the College, the Dartmouth Plan permitted the admission of women in 1972 without decreasing the number of male students on campus during any given time in the academic year. The advantages of enhancing student flexibility and having virtually the entire sophomore class together at one time on campus were also a part of the decision.
Many faculty members support the D-Plan because of the extended research opportunities it offers, as professors can teach in the summer and take a term or two off during the year to do research, enhancing professors' overall scheduling options, Dean of the Faculty Carol Folt said.
But the D-Plan can disrupt educational continuity. The short terms can force professors to cram tremendous amounts of material into a 10-week period, while most academics around the country teach similar courses in 15 weeks.
From an administrative standpoint, Scherr said that a major challenge regarding academics is the comings and goings of students throughout the year, particularly for departments where courses often need to be taken in a particular sequence.
Scherr does not think that there are any major financial problems associated with a year-round system, although he does acknowledge that having regular classes in the summer increases the amount of work for many administrative offices dealing with scheduling issues, as students register four times a year for both courses and housing assignments.
Scherr believes year-round operation, despite its challenges, has on the whole worked well for Dartmouth.
"[The D-Plan] has enabled many students to take advantage of internships and other work and study opportunities that are not available to those at other schools," Scherr said.
The Board of Governors, which oversees the Florida state university system, will discuss Rosenberg's proposal Aug. 10 when it meets at UCF.