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HISTORY OF THE PROPOSED TRIMESTER SYSTEMUNIVERSITY SENATE, October 15th, 2012

• April 24th, 2010: Draft concept paper “Balanced Trimester Plan for Purdue University” (TD Sands and LP Sands)*

• May 18th, 2010: Memo on “Balanced Trimester Plan” from Keith Murray, SMAS Director, to TDS*

• March 2011: Decadal planning process initiated • March 2011: “Blue Sky/Blue Ocean” ideas solicited from all Purdue

faculty and staff; ~60 proposals received.• April 2011: Three faculty roundtables organized to discuss proposals• April 2011: Decadal subcommittees established; deliberations

through June 2011 • June 27th, 2011: 43 Big Ideas vetted by steering committee before

retreat, identifying “Balanced Trimester” as one of top three (along with “Doubling Philanthropy” and the “24/7/12 University”)

• June 29th, 2011: Steering committee retreat

*Document available on Senate website

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HISTORY OF THE PROPOSED TRIMESTER SYSTEMUNIVERSITY SENATE, October 15th, 2012

•July/August 2011: Auxiliary and Service Center Subcommittee* and Physical Facilities Subcommittee* offer initial analyses•August 2011: Discussion with the Board of Trustees•Fall 2011: Further development of financial models•January 11th, 2012: News Release - “Purdue trimester plan will accelerate time-to-degree, enhance educational opportunities”*•January 23rd, 2012: provost (TDS) presents decadal update (including Trimester) to University Senate*•January 24th, 2012: “Decadal Update” memo to campus community from provost TDS*•August 2012: Prof. Frank Dooley chosen to lead build-up of summer and transition planning for Balanced Trimester (3 yr. appointment)

*Document available on Senate website

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• Purdue – WL campus largely idle in the summer; 6,000 undergraduates; 7% of fall credit hours

• Disincentivizing budget model; lack of course offerings; compressed schedule

• Lack of summer academic options limits fall/spring internships for students; fall/spring travel and research for faculty

• Only 42% of baccalaureate seekers complete in four years

From TDS report to University Senate on January 23rd, 2012

Summer status

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• Build summer credit hours from 7% to 35% of fall.

• Flip calendar in ~2020 from two semesters of 15 instructional weeks to three trimesters of 13 instructional weeks.

• Build summer trimester to 70% of fall, with >20,000 students in residence and an annual increase of 25% in student credit hours

From TDS report to University Senate on January 23rd, 2012

A plan forward

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• More flexibility for students; Increased 4-yr graduation rates• More flexibility for faculty

– Some may teach three trimesters for additional compensation– Some may choose fall or spring as a “research” trimester– Minimal disruption for those who stay on fall-spring cycle

• Net revenues estimated at $40M annually – revenue of $190M – cost of $150M– Better utilization of fixed assets– Faculty numbers will need to increase

• Enhanced local economy

From TDS report to University Senate on January 23rd, 2012

BENEFITS

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• Current momentum in enhanced undergraduate applicant profile and demand must be maintained

• Budget model must incentivize summer for both students and faculty

• Calendar will not be altered until summer utilization is substantially enhanced (target: 35% of fall)

Caveats and Conditions

From TDS report to University Senate on January 23rd, 2012

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University senate role

• Building Summer (2012-2020)• Calendar change to Trimester (~2020)

– M-F scheduling (e.g., move to 60 and 120 minute standard periods; accommodating blended learning)

– Academic Calendar (e.g., start fall after labor day, end spring in late April; breaks; holidays; exam schedules; modular trimesters).

– Definition of faculty academic year and compensation options

– Definition of full load for faculty and students– Timing of transition

From TDS report to University Senate on January 23rd, 2012