The Academic Senate recently voted to extend winter intersession from a two-week format to a four-week formatto ease the stress of the added course load. The extended winter intersession at Cal Poly Pomona is set to begin virtually on Dec. 19 and run through Jan. 21.
As CPP prepares for the extended winter intersession, the news of the one-time extension has received generally positive reactions amongst the campus community.
Mackenzie Shields, a fourth-year business marketing student, prefers taking certain courses within a shorter timeframe during the winter compared to the longer spring and fall semesters.
“I took business communication; I really enjoyed it and it wasn’t as fast-paced as everyone said. It was very doable, and I still learned a lot of great information,” Shields said.
The extra semester is aimed to help students complete GEs, retake courses or get ahead in their academic progress. CPP community safety remains highly prioritized, and these classes will stay online.
“I think it’s a good idea because of the situation we are in right now,” said Associate Registrar Connie Kuang. “It would be safer to hold these classes virtually.”
The extended length of the winter intersession will allow courses to be more manageable for students and faculty alike. Alireza Yazdani, a professor in the College of Business Administration, sees the Academic Senate’s decision to extend the winter intersession as a strategic one.
“Four weeks allows me to convey material that I want, compared to two weeks. Going from two to four weeks was a wise decision,” Yazdani said. “The course I’m teaching, Statistical Foundations for Business Analytics, is one that has never been taught at CPP during winter intersession. It’s a ‘bottleneck’ for many students so it can be helpful as far as graduating. These kids are going to have to work really hard to pass this class and dedicate about 10 hours a week.”
Academic Senate member and engineering professor Jonathon Puthoff expressed his agreement with the decision he and fellow senators reached unanimously. He believes that the more accessible that courses are, the higher the impact it will make on graduating students who have dealt with economic, health and family crises during the year.
“Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary measures. The intersession extensions should no doubt alleviate some of the ‘crunch’ effects,” Puthoff said. “I expect many students to appreciate the opportunity to catch up or work ahead on their degree, and will be additionally enthused about the less hectic pace.”
Students can now check which courses are being offered for the winter intersession in their Student Center. Registration runs from Oct. 7 through Nov. 29.