As Kaua’i Community College’s approximately 1,000 students and 70 faculty members returned to their classrooms Thursday, officials began working on plans to salvage spring semester for the University of Hawai`i system. Two days after a tentative agreement was reached between
As Kaua’i Community College’s approximately 1,000 students and 70 faculty members returned to their classrooms Thursday, officials began working on plans to salvage spring semester for the University of Hawai`i system.
Two days after a tentative agreement was reached between the state and the University of Hawai’i Professional Assembly, each of the 10 campuses have received guidelines aimed at ensuring students are able to complete their coursework in time for the mid-May commencement ceremonies, said UH spokesman Jim Manke.
“Basically, the goal is to get everything wrapped up by the 12th,” he said.
To do so, the community colleges will have two days carved off their 75-day semester, convert six of the previously scheduled examination days to instructional time, and push the final day of instruction from May 2 to May 12.
The larger UH campuses are attempting to finish their classes at about the same time, but may stretch that deadline through May 18.
With final exams scheduled for the final day of each class, Manke said classes will continue to be held on the same day of the week and at the same time until the end of the school year.
The changes, Manke said, were chosen over the possibility of prolonging the length of the students’ semester into the summer.
“This is kind of seen as the lesser of two evils,” he said. “We just didn’t want to do that if it was at all possible.”
With faculty members still responsible for submitting their students’ final grades within 48 hours of the last instructional period, Manke said UH officials have allowed instructors to modify certain portions of their lesson plans while still maintaining their class integrity.
“They’ve given the faculty a fair amount of flexibility,” Manke said.
To coincide with the changes, student services such as libraries, computer labs and cafeterias will have extended hours to deal with the altered schedules.
However, if the changes prove too difficult for UH students, Manke said they will not only be allowed to make an appeal for extraordinary hardships, but — in some cases — will be able to receive a partial or full refund for the semester’s tuition.
“Under certain circumstances, there will be refunds for those who cannot possibly meet the guidelines,” he said.
Refund applications must be filed by April 27, while appeals by Kaua`i Community College students must be made to Earl Nishiguchi, the campus’ dean of student services.
If the first day back at school was any indications, KCC provost Peggy Cha said the reopening of all the classes has faculty, staff and students in a good mood.
“Everybody’s just glad to be back,” she said Thursday morning.
Other than certain distance-learning classes, which are commonly held on Fridays and Saturdays, Cha said it was unlikely that many courses would be held on the weekends. Between students’ eagerness to finish the semester on time, the use of additional — but optional — study time should succeed in keeping class time between Monday and Friday, she said.
“I don’t see too much use for” weekend classes, she said.
Even without the extra time in the classroom, Cha said the KCC faculty hopes to have everything wrapped up a day before the May 12 deadline.
“If we need the 12th, it’s there for us,” she said.
Staff writer Matt Smylie can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 226) and mailto:msmylie@pulitzer.net
