Spring Break
UW-Stout will offer three-year graduation plan
Select majors will be able to complete their bachelor's degree in three years
Hillestad, Amanda
Issue date: 10/22/09 Section: News
At a time when the average number of years to finish a bachelors degree is approaching five, the University of Wisconsin-Stout is allowing members of three popular majors to graduate in just three. On Oct. 14 Chancellor Sorensen announced that he had accepted the recommendations of a task force composed of Edwin Biggerstaff, Damien Hanft, Karen Martinson and Associate Vice Chancellor Janice Coker to offer students majoring in Psychology, Business Administration and Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management the opportunity to finish their degrees in three years. These three majors were chosen because they are some of the largest majors on campus and consistently offer summer and Winterm classes, an important element of the plan.
"I just think they can be more efficient in how they go to school," said Chancellor Sorensen in support of the plan. "In these challenging economic times, we need to offer our students every avenue possible to complete their degrees quickly."
Graduating in three years has always been an option in the past. "We always have a few students who decide on their own to fast track their degrees," said Coker. "This puts a more formal process around it and provides the student with the support to accomplish it." According to Hanft, UW-Stout is the first school in the University of Wisconsin system to have an official three year program and it is the first school in the country to allow Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management majors to graduate in three years.
Beginning in the fall of 2010, interested students can sign a contract with the University outlining both parties' obligations for the three year plan. Students who sign the contract get priority enrollment so they can get the classes they need to complete their majors. These students are required to take summer and Winterm classes and meet with their advisor on a regular basis to stay on track. The members of the task force expect about two to five percent of students in each major will opt for the acceleration program. "In Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management we have about 600 students so about 15 or 20 will likely take advantage of this program," said Hanft.
"I just think they can be more efficient in how they go to school," said Chancellor Sorensen in support of the plan. "In these challenging economic times, we need to offer our students every avenue possible to complete their degrees quickly."
Graduating in three years has always been an option in the past. "We always have a few students who decide on their own to fast track their degrees," said Coker. "This puts a more formal process around it and provides the student with the support to accomplish it." According to Hanft, UW-Stout is the first school in the University of Wisconsin system to have an official three year program and it is the first school in the country to allow Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management majors to graduate in three years.
Beginning in the fall of 2010, interested students can sign a contract with the University outlining both parties' obligations for the three year plan. Students who sign the contract get priority enrollment so they can get the classes they need to complete their majors. These students are required to take summer and Winterm classes and meet with their advisor on a regular basis to stay on track. The members of the task force expect about two to five percent of students in each major will opt for the acceleration program. "In Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management we have about 600 students so about 15 or 20 will likely take advantage of this program," said Hanft.
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