ASU considers trimester system

With summer 2013 the earliest ASU could look into a trimester system, President Joseph C. Rallo is encouraging the university to consider three full semesters.

"The next two year funding cycle will be set in summer 2013, so we don't want to jeopardize that by changing how we schedule classes," Rallo said. "That's why if we decide to do something differently with summer school it would not happen until after 2013."

ASU has vacant buildings during the summer, he said. The school wants to use tax payer's dollars as efficiently as possible.

"We already have summer school, but can we do it better?" Rallo said. "Trimesters would allow more summer courses, but not necessarily following the same model or template as the fall and spring semesters."

Rallo said if ASU switched to a trimester system, it should only affect students positively. Trimesters would offer greater flexibility to college students, as well as high school graduates.

College students could graduate earlier if they took advantage of the optional full summer semester, he said. High school graduates would have the option of beginning college in the summer instead of waiting until fall.

"People could get twice as much done in the summer, and I think it's better for those who want to graduate early," freshman Haleigh Arent said.

Students could learn more with a full summer semester, whereas learning is more crammed with two short summer semester, she said.

Sophomore Duncan Knox said he thought transitioning to a trimester system would positively affect ASU as long as the system didn't negatively impact the fall and spring semesters.

Rallo said he feels the pros outweigh the cons of moving towards a trimester system.

Despite the flexibility and options that a trimester system offers, some drawbacks might include marketing and redesigning costs, realigning space usage and costs associated with more classes offered, he said.

ASU needs to explore the trimester system to see if it makes the institution more responsive to student needs, Rallo said. If it allows student and faculty greater options, the system is something to think seriously about.