Regents to consider fewer instructional days / LJWorld.com

Archive for Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Staff Reports

June 24, 2009

Topeka — Students at Kansas University and other state public universities may spend fewer days in class under a proposal before the state Board of Regents.

KU has submitted a plan to reduce the number of instructional days to 146 days per academic year.

Currently, regents procedures require that an academic year consist of a minimum of two 16-week semesters totaling 150 instructional days, plus five final-exam days each semester.

KU surveyed 13 schools from other states, and all of them had fewer than 150 days.

“Over the past two decades, higher education emphasis has tended toward assessing and documenting results rather than merely counting seat time for students,” the regents staff said.

In another matter before the regents this week, KU is seeking regents’ permission to construct an addition to the Structural Biology Center on West Campus in Lawrence.

The $6 million in funding for the proposed 13,500-square-foot addition is available under the federal stimulus package, according to a memo to the regents.

The addition would provide space for imaging equipment that could be used in numerous research areas. Future maintenance and operating costs will be funded by the KU Center for Research Inc., the memo states.

The regents will consider the matter Thursday.