Santa Rosa Junior College students are in school longer than most community college students, as the semester begins one week earlier and ends one week later than most. But this may soon change.

Plans are underway for a compressed schedule, with some classes already available on the Petaluma campus in the upcoming spring 2015 semester.

These changes are just a beginning, and for now, the compressed schedule is a pilot program.

Michelle Markovics, an SRJC anthropology professor, said the compressed schedule means the spring semester would shrink from 17.5 weeks to about 14.5, affecting class scheduling.

The goal is to make available in block schedule all classes needed to transfer using the general education IGETC pattern.

“Students have a hard time getting into classes they need with the schedules. It is hard to find stable class times,” Markovics said.

The block schedule would mean transfer classes in the IGETC pattern would be scheduled between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Within the compressed schedule, there will be no full-length classes; all will start late and end early.

The traditional full-length classes allow students to access the material more frequently. Some subjects, like foreign languages, require more face-to-face interaction, which is not completely lost with a compressed schedule.

The decreased number of weeks will not change the number of class hours or class units. Students are still in class for the equivalent amount of time; material is just compressed within a shorter time frame.

“Students can process more with fewer class meetings,” Markovics said.

In the spring 2015 semester, seven classes are available in the compressed schedule. They are Anthropology 1, 2 and two sections of 31; English 1A, History 21, Psychology 3 and Spanish 1.

These classes will begin about one week later and end about one week earlier than other SRJC classes. The best part is there is no finals week; the final is held the last day of class instead.

“I’m hoping to have double the number of classes available in the next year,” Markovics said.

Plans for 2015 may add more science and language classes to the Petaluma campus.

Another possible format offers more flexibility for students. Classes in this format are in the block schedule, but only half a semester in length.

The two classes will be held at the same time, but each class is only eight weeks long. “Classes are at the same time and the student can keep their set schedule,” Markovics said. This means a student can finish two classes during the same time slot in one semester.

Tara Jacobsen, interim dean of Instruction and Technical Services, said, “The rotating eight-week classes help prevent drop-outs and helps students focus on fewer classes so they are not spread so thin.”

The idea is to help students finish their required classes quickly.

“We have concentrated on being innovative to help busy students. We’re trying to think of ways to help students finish two-year programs in two years,” Jacobsen said.

The compressed schedule formats will help lower drop rates, increase student retention of information and help students transfer more quickly.

Other colleges use the compressed schedule too, with great success. “National articles about similar programs have high success rates. GPAs and transfer rates are higher while retention rates and drop rates are lower,” Jacobsen said.

However, SRJC’s academic program is already regarded as highly effective. The 2012-13 SRJC Annual Report quotes a U.S. Department of Education survey  that ranks SRJC 10th in full-time student retention rate and 13th in the number of associates degrees awarded among other California community colleges.

The only catch is that students take three, four or even more years to finish.

“Success increases the quicker you get people through,” Jacobsen said.

In the future, several options are possible. Markovics would like to see major classes added to the IGETC pattern classes as well as themed tracks. A themed track could help students with particular interests or a specific major advance.

Learning communities might also be available in the future. Jacobsen explained that the cohort base allows the same students to move together through their themed track to create a community.

“They would take the information learned in one class and use it to help them in another class,” Jacobsen said.

The compressed schedule may also provide the opportunity afforded from hybrid online classes within the block schedule. Hybrid online classes have a large portion of the class online, including discussions, weekly assignments and other material similar to a traditional online class. But online activities will replace only some seat time. Face-to-face class meetings, most bi-weekly, are required.

When deciding that SRJC students could benefit from a compressed schedule, trends in enrollment showed extremely high demand for certain classes over others.

“Hybrid online classes are bursting at the seams,” Jacobsen said.

But the trick is finding a balance. “Classes don’t always have to be all online. The hybrid is a nice middle ground,” Jacobsen said. Trying to create flexibility without compromising quality of pedagogy is important.

Increasing the availability of online classes can also generate out-of-state interest and greater flexibility for students. But setting up online and hybrid classes is a lot of work.

“Implementation costs money,” Jacobsen said.

The compressed schedule attempts to balance flexibility and efficiency, while helping students reach  goals quickly. The compressed schedule is still in a trial period to see how students respond.