Academic Calendar FAQs

Semester Credits & Calendar Alignment

Frequently Asked Questions

Starting in May 2009 Prescott College will award semester credits, and cease offering quarter credits, in all of its undergraduate programs. The graduate programs already award semester credit. In addition, the College will establish a closely unified academic calendar for all programs based on semester-length terms. This change will: increase the opportunities for students and faculty to work collaboratively across programs; clarify and simplify how our delivery models work; and better align our programs with federal financial aid regulations. Most importantly, we strongly believe this change will increase student success and satisfaction with all of our programs.

The RDP, MAP and PhD will experience a few changes. The ADP will experience significant changes. We have attempted to foresee and answer some common questions which this change will undoubtedly raise in the minds of our students. If any of your questions are not answered by the following Frequently Asked Questions, please contact one of the persons listed at the end.

CALENDAR, COURSES, AND CREDITS

Do I need to change anything right away?

ADP and RDP students : If you are on track to finish all undergraduate coursework and graduation requirements by May 2009 (RDP) or July 2009 (ADP), this change will not affect you. However, if your graduation is delayed, or if your anticipated graduation will be Summer 2009 or later, you should review your academic program with your core faculty (ADP) or faculty advisor (RDP) as soon as possible.

MAP and PhD students : No.

How will moving to a semester calendar change the school year?

The academic calendar year will consist of fall, spring, and summer semesters for all programs, although the PhD program will not have a summer semester. The ADP winter term will be eliminated at the end of the winter 2008 term (Oct 2008- April 2009).

When will the change to a semester calendar begin?

All changes to the academic calendar will go into effect starting with the summer 2009 semesters.

ADP and RDP will award semester credits beginning with the summer semesters in May 2009.  

What are the specific changes to each calendar?

ADP :

• Moves to three consecutive semesters starting May 15, 2009.
• Fall and spring semesters = 15 weeks; summer semester = 14 weeks.
• Continuing students previously on the summer/winter schedule will begin the semester program with summer 2009.
• Continuing students previously on the fall/spring schedule will begin the semester program with fall 2009.
• Thereafter, all students will follow the semester calendar.

RDP : There is no change to the academic calendar at this time. Each RDP term still consists of a 4-week block and an 11-week semester (change of name only).

MAP :

• The first summer semester will begin June 29, 2009. Future summer semesters will start earlier in June and last 8 weeks.
• Semesters will be 18 weeks long beginning with the fall 2009 semester. Spring semester will start in late January beginning with the spring 2010 semester.

PhD :

• Semesters will be 18 weeks long beginning with the fall 2009 semester.
• Spring semester will start in mid-to-late January beginning with the spring 2010 semester.

The 2009-2010 Academic Calendar is posted on the Prescott College website .

NOTE: RDP and MAP summer semesters are for continuing students only.

How much time is there between semesters?

For ADP and RDP : There are approximately 5 weeks between the fall and spring semesters; 1-2 weeks between the spring and summer semesters; and 1-2 weeks between the summer and fall semesters.

For MAP : There are approximately 5 weeks between the fall and spring semesters; 2 weeks between the spring and summer semesters; and 3 weeks between the summer and fall semesters.

For PhD : There are approximately 5 weeks between the fall and spring semesters; and approximately 10 weeks between the spring and fall semesters.

How many weeks will a semester course run?

ADP : All courses run for the full length of the semester.

RDP : No change to length of courses at this time.

MAP : All courses run for the full length of the semester.

PhD : All courses run for the full length of the semester.

What number of credits is full time versus part time under the semester calendar?

12+ semester credits = fulltime

9 - 11semester credits = 3/4 time

6 - 8 semester credits = halftime

1 - 5 semester credits = less than halftime enrollment

What if I want to enroll for overload credits?

ADP and RDP students : Students wishing to enroll for more than 16 credits in a semester must get the approval of their core faculty (ADP) or faculty advisor (RDP).

MAP students : Students may enroll for up to 15 semester credits with approval of their core faculty and graduate advisor.

PhD students : Students may only enroll for up to 12 credits in the semester.

How many semester credits will courses be worth?

ADP : Credits may vary with the course. The standard mentored study course will be 4 semester credits. Students seeking teacher certification will follow the Arizona Department of Education mandates.

RDP : All courses will be 4 semester credits.

MAP : Credits may vary with the course. The standard master's level course will remain 3 semester credits. Students seeking teacher certification will follow the Arizona Department of Education mandates.

PhD : Credits may vary with the course.

GRADUATION

MAP and PhD graduation requirements are not affected by the change to semester credit.

Will the change to semester credit affect the overall length of my undergraduate program?

The overall length of your program will depend on whether you are enrolled fulltime or part time, how many courses you take in a semester, and how many semesters you enroll for in an academic year. You are strongly encouraged to contact your core faculty (ADP) or faculty advisor (RDP) to see if you need to revise your academic program plan.

Will the change to semester credit affect my undergraduate graduation requirements?

The minimum number of courses required to receive a B.A. degree from Prescott College has not changed. Students need a minimum of 32 courses to graduate. The number of credits necessary to graduate will vary from student to student depending on the number of transfer credits you can apply towards your degree. Students must have a minimum of 120-128 semester credits to graduate. You are strongly encouraged to contact your core faculty (ADP) or faculty advisor (RDP) if you have concerns about your academic program plan.  

Do I need to revise my undergraduate graduation plan?

ADP and RDP : In general, no. You will change the credit amounts for courses taken in summer 2009 and beyond, but the titles of the courses you planned to take will not necessarily change. You are strongly encouraged to contact your core faculty (ADP) or faculty advisor (RDP) to see if you have concerns about your academic program plan.

What are the new semester start and end dates?

ADP

SU09: May 15-Aug 14, 2009

FA09: August 31-Dec. 12, 2009

SP10: January 15-April 30, 2010 [tentative]

SU10: May 14-Aug. 20, 2010 [tentative]

FA10: August 30-Dec. 16, 2010. [tentative]

RDP

SU09: May 18-August 17, 2009

FA09: August 25-December 19, 2009

SP10: January 12-May 8, 2010

FA10: August 24-December 18, 2010

MAP

SU09: June 29-August 14, 2009

FA09: August 21-December 19, 2009

SP10: January 22-May 22, 2010

SU10: June 7-July 31, 2010

FA10: August 20-December 18, 2010

PhD

SP09: February 6-June 22, 2009

FA09: August 16, 2009 - December19, 2009

SP10: January 16-May 22, 2010

FA10: August 18-December 18, 2010

When are the commencement ceremonies?

As part of the move to a unified semester calendar, Prescott College will institute all-college commencement weekends. Watch for future communications regarding dates and times. In the meantime, consult the All-college Academic Calendar .

TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID

How will the change to semester hours affect my tuition?

The average annual cost for fulltime enrollment will remain about the same. Starting with Fall 2009 semester, tuition for ADP and MAP will be charged on a per credit basis. There will no longer be one tuition price for a range of credits. Fulltime tuition for RDP will remain a range (12-16 semester credits). For all programs, per credit rates will be converted proportionally from quarter-hour to semester-hour credit rates. Tuition rates for the 2009-2010 Academic Year will be decided by the Board of Trustees in February 2009.

When is tuition due?

Payment or payment arrangements must be made by prior to the start of the semester. See the calendar of your program for exact dates.

How many semester credits are required for financial aid?

•  12+ semester credits = fulltime

•  9 - 11semester credits = 3/4 time

•  6 - 8 semester credits = halftime

•  1 - 5 semester credits = less than halftime

You must be enrolled in at least 6 semester credits to be eligible for federal student loans and to be eligible for a portion of your institutional grants and/or scholarships. The federal Pell Grant is prorated based on enrollment but other federal grants such, as the ACG and SMART grants, require full time enrollment. You are encouraged to contact the financial aid office with questions relating to your specific awards.

Do I have to do anything differently when applying for financial aid?

No. You will continue to apply for aid through the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

How will the new calendar alignment affect my financial aid?

It is unlikely that you will see a dramatic change in your eligibility. However, the amount of aid that you are eligible for could always potentially change from year to year depending on the results of your FAFSA.

How will financial aid money be awarded?

There are a variety of funding options available that will support different enrollment patterns. You are highly encouraged to contact a member of the financial aid staff so that they can work with you to proactively plan for your desired enrollment. Each academic program is different in its aid offerings.

RDP : Students enrolled in the RDP can expect no changes in the way aid is awarded.

MAP : Students enrolled in MAP will have an opportunity to enroll in the new summer semester. Students interested in enrolling in summer are encouraged to talk with a member of the financial aid staff so that they can offer funding suggestions for the additional summer semester.

PhD : Students enrolled in the PhD program can expect no change in the way aid is awarded.

ADP

Beginning Fall 2009, there will be changes to the way that aid is awarded. The following chart offers five examples as to how Pell Grant and Federal Stafford Loans can be awarded under the new calendar.

* 2009-2010 Maximum Pell Award (eligibility and amount awarded varies by student)

** Federal Stafford loan eligibility for a junior or senior. This award amount varies by grade level.

Students will continue to be offered other forms of financial aid such as ADP Grants as well as other state and federal grants. Offers for those programs vary significantly by student but would be offered in addition to what is offered in Pell and Stafford loans.

There are a number of other forms of aid available. Please visit the financial aid at website at:   http://www.prescott.edu/finaid/funding.html to see what else you might qualify for, or contact the financial aid office with specific questions.

Do I have to do anything differently when accepting my Federal Stafford loans?

We currently participate in the FFEL (Federal Family Education Loan) program, in which students and parents borrow from private lenders. Beginning in the fall 2009 semester, we will participate exclusively in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program, in which borrowers obtain loan funds directly from the US Department of Education. The acceptance process for Direct Loans will change, but will continue to be an on-line and paperless process. We believe that the Direct Loan program will offer our students and parents a more stable, streamlined, and predictable borrowing experience . Detailed information regarding this change will be sent to all students by the end of April, so stay tuned!

Do I have to do anything differently with the tuition reimbursement from my employer, or with my outside scholarships?

No. You will still need to provide a Letter of Intent from the Third Party Payor as you do now.

Is Prescott College scholarship money available year round?  

Yes. Contact the financial aid office for more detail regarding your specific circumstance.

How does a Leave of Absence affect my financial aid?

There is no funding available to you while you are on a LOA.

REGISTRATION, ENROLLMENT STATUS, TRANSCRIPTS

How and when do I re-enroll?

Students must submit an enrollment agreement form, (or leave of absence form ) every semester, unless you will graduate at the end of your current term. Failure to submit either an enrollment form, or the LOA form by the published deadline, may result in your being withdrawn from Prescott College

ADP and RDP students : You will receive enrollment information 3 times a year. You can enroll for all 3 semesters in the academic year, or you can choose to enroll in only 2 semesters. If you receive financial aid, be sure to consult with a financial aid counselor at the beginning of the academic year to make sure you are enrolled for the correct semester(s) in order to be eligible for all your aid.

MAP students : You will receive enrollment information 3 times a year.  

PhD students : You will receive enrollment information 2 times a year.

When are independent study course contracts or study plans due?

ADP

Students will submit course contracts to their core faculty prior to the beginning of the semester, and no later than the end of the drop/add period . Registration deadlines, contract deadlines, and drop/add dates will be posted on the website and publicized in the re-enrollment materials distributed 4-6 weeks before each semester. Failure to submit contracts by the published deadlines will result in those credits being dropped for the semester.

RDP

No change. Students will pre-register for independent study contracts prior to the beginning of the semester, and no later than the end of the drop/add period. Registration deadlines, contract deadlines and drop/add dates are posted on the website and published in the class schedule each semester. Failure to submit contracts by the published deadlines will result in those credits being dropped for the semester.

MAP

Study plans are due during the first week of the semester. Failure to submit a study plan by the published deadline will result in those credits being dropped for the semester.

PhD

Study plans are due during the first week of the semester. Failure to submit a study plan by the published deadline will result in those credits being dropped for the semester.

How does a leave of absence work?

The procedures for requesting a Leave of Absence have not changed: You must submit a signed LOA form to the Registrar's Office prior to the start of the semester, or not later than the end of the drop/add period. Failure to do so could result in your being withdrawn from Prescott College and you will have to reapply for admission in order to continue your studies. LOA forms are available online or through the Registrar's Office.  

How long does a LOA last?

All leaves are for one semester. Failure to re-enroll at the end of a leave of absence will result in your being withdrawn from the College. Contact the associate registrar for your program for more details.

How will the difference in quarter and semester credits be reflected on my transcript?  

Prior quarter credits will remain on your transcript as quarter credits and will be labeled as such. This includes prior transfer credits that were converted to quarter credits. Semester credits for ADP and RDP go into effect with summer 2009 semester. There will be a note on both the front and back of the transcript explaining the credit-hour change.

What is the conversion rate of quarter to semester credits?  

One semester-hour credit is equal to 1.5 quarter-hour credits. However, the College will not convert prior Prescott College quarter credits to semester credits in your record. Your core faculty (ADP), faculty advisor (RDP), and/or the associate registrar for your program can help you determine your total number of credits.

For more information:   

Prescott College's toll free number is 1-877-350-2100. Use the extensions listed to reach the following offices:

Business Office: Cathy Boland, Ext. 4001

Financial Aid: Terri Eckel, Ext. 1112; or Erin Wilborn, Ext. 1108

Registrar/Records: Mary Trevor, Ext. 1101