District proposed calender rejected

The Orange County Community College District are working together to create a plan that will accommodate the students and staff after the district-proposed schedule was rejected Thursday. 

"The district proposed a schedule with two passing periods, one around mid-day and one early evening," said Faculty Senate President Sean Chamberlin.

An overall shorter semester will require class periods to be extended.

"We are required by the state to provide 18 hours of instruction per unit. So a three unit class must have 54 total hours of instruction. That 54 hours is spread over 16 weeks not, instead of 17.5 weeks,"  Chamberlin said.

According to United Faculty President Dale Craig,  the faculty senate had many reasons for the rejection based on the needs of the students and the curriculum they teach.

"If the district has any type of creditable evidence that the benefits of universal common passing times outweigh the harm, as articulated by the Fullerton Senate motion, then such evidence should be presented," Craig said.

Chamberlin provided details of the district's proposed schedule; he stated that many classes were scheduled to begin at 7 a.m., while some night classes would be held until almost 11 p.m.

Another reason the district's schedule was not approved was the congestion it would create on campus as a result of incorporating passing periods.

The Collaborative Schedule Framework, designed by Faculty and Managers at Fullerton College, is said to include multiple start and stoop times for classes, prevent congestion and and does not prevent departments from modifying their schedules in response to student demand and curricular needs, according to Craig.

Those who are interested in viewing the Collaborative Model can visit www.UFOnline.org.

The approved shorter 16-week semester is set to begin fall 2012.