THE University of Newcastle is investigating a "flexible academic year" that could include different ways of delivering courses.
Vice Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky was asked at a wide-ranging all-staff forum on Friday about a rumour that UON will introduce six week teaching terms. "We are looking at a flexible academic year and that could include different ways of delivering courses, but it's very much a consultative piece that's underway," Professor Zelinsky said, before asking Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Mark Hoffman to elaborate.
"The foundation of this issue is we have a lot of students who have trouble progressing through their programs due to the flexibility issues that we have with our academic programs," Professor Hoffman said.
"We're also introducing a piece where students will be having to go essentially away from the university to do part of their study through work integrated learning.
"So if we put these two together we need to really look at flexible academic progression.
"We certainly haven't landed on any position, at the moment we're simply looking at what are the blockers for students and we're in a consultation process.
"It's very early, we've started with students - as we should - and so I think that question is significantly premature and so I think there is certainly no definitive statement around anything in that order."
Professor Zelinsky added "nothing has been ruled out". "We are committed to get the best model for outstanding student experience, that's what we're here for," he said.
Professor Hoffman later told the Herald many students had a "difficult time if they fail a subject or take a course part-time due to pre-requisite requirements" and UON wanted to "provide more flexibility for our students to choose their study periods and ensure they have the best chance to progress successfully in their studies".
"To date, we have engaged students through focus groups, collected a wealth of data on enrolment patterns and student progression and like all similar projects we will be consulting with our staff."
He said UON would continue to consider its program structures this year.
University of Newcastle Students' Association president Jessica Philbrook said 58 per cent of UON courses had prerequisites.
"That actually creates a massive issue and barrier for students in accessing their education and slows down their degree considerably in terms of progress being made, people are graduating late or things of that nature, so it's definitely something we're really open to discussing with the university."
National Tertiary Education Union Newcastle branch president Dan Conway said rumours about the six-week term were "very strong".
He said management would need to consult extensively with staff and consider current workload protections in the Academic Enterprise Agreement if it wanted to implement this model.
"It is notable that six week semesters are being trialled at Southern Cross University [SCU].
"Colleagues there advise the trial has had negative impacts on student education and experiences, and critical research time and workload for all staff groups.
"We understand students at SCU were sold the trial on flexibility improvements without understanding that means that many no longer have time for their part-time jobs, or other extracurricular activities.
"The impact has also been horrendous on already overworked staff."
