Friends of NWTC Magazine Friends Fall 2019 | Page 8

A new advantage for students
Eight-week classes expected to increase student success
More than 3,500 students graduated from NWTC last year
with degrees and certificates in high-demand fields ranging
from health care to engineering technology.
“That’s 3,500 people leaving here with credentials; 3,500
people joining the workforce; 3,500 people earning better
and higher wages to support their families,” Dr. Jeff Rafn,
president of NWTC, said. “Those are things of which to be
pleased and proud.”
This fall NWTC is making a bold, strategic move that
promises to help even more students master their courses,
stay in college, and earn a credential. The College is starting
to transition courses from 15 weeks to eight weeks in length.
Two programs transitioned courses to the eight-week
model this fall. Beginning in summer 2020, about half
of all programs will move to the new format with the
remaining programs to transition in fall of 2021. It’s called
the 8-Week Advantage.
The new schedule is called the 8-Week Advantage because
that is exactly what it is – an advantage for NWTC students.
National data shows that with eight-week courses, students
have increased course success and completion rates. At
NWTC, students who have taken eight-week or shorter
courses have experienced similar, successful results.
The biggest difference, he added, is that the eight-
week schedule essentially cuts his workload in half.
“It really does feel that way,” he said. “Because you’re
not learning five subjects all at once.”
Students also seem to build stronger connections with
their instructor and classmates in the eight-week classes.
By taking longer classes in a shorter timeframe, such
as a four-hour class held twice a week for eight weeks,
students may feel more comfortable in their classes
sooner than in the traditional 15-week course.
“Honestly, the camaraderie and the fellowship among
students in (the eight-week) class was a lot better,
simply because we had more time,” said Dieck.
“The impact was being a little more comfortable in
my own skin in class and being more comfortable
raising my hand because I’m more comfortable with
the people around me.”
Learn more about 8-Week Advantage at
nwtc.edu/8week
“I would rather have the eight-week classes versus the
15 weeks,” Nursing student Brittany Lamb, said. “There is a
shorter light at the end of the tunnel. I was more successful
in an eight-week class.”
With eight-week classes, students will still have the same
amount of course hours as 15-week courses, but will be
taking only half the number of classes at the same time.
Lamb admits feeling nervous trying out an eight-week class.
She said, though, the fast-paced program pushed her to go
more in depth with the course material and she was able
to focus better.
Under the new structure, there will be a total of five
academic sessions every year. Fall semester will have
two eight-week sessions, spring semester will have two
eight-week sessions, and there will be one eight-week
session during the summer.
For Business Management students like Brian Dieck, the
shorter blocks of class time mean increased flexibility for
work and family life.
“Going forward, I can see myself scheduling two classes,
then three classes – still nailing 15 credits or more a
semester and then having the opportunity to work the 25 to
30 hours a week needed to cover all the bills and expenses
that life comes across,” Dieck said.
8 \ FRIENDS OF NWTC
SHORTER
BLOCKS OF
CLASS TIME =
Increased
flexibility
for work and
family life