[VPAAEtal] Considering 8-week terms for graduate programs

[Academic Affairs]

Dear Colleagues,

I'm writing to share that we are beginning a renewed conversation about the possibility of some master's programs moving to 8-week terms.

Many of you will recall that 8-week terms were implemented across the College of Business and other programs in 2022. Those experiences helped surface important questions about planning, consistency, and operations. Since then, our institutional context has evolved significantly.

Today, we are operating with greater clarity, stronger evidence, and more intentional structures. Graduate education-particularly for older adults and working students-continues to shift toward models that support momentum, flexibility, and timely completion. With improved planning and a clearer framework for faculty leadership and academic rigor, we are well positioned to revisit this conversation thoughtfully and strategically.

Specifically, we are better positioned to:

  *   Establish clear criteria for which programs-if any-are appropriate for 8-week terms, taking into account pedagogy, accreditation, licensure, and clinical requirements.
  *   Plan intentionally for 8-week terms through curriculum mapping while maintaining workload consistency.
  *   Present clearer, more competitive program structures to prospective students.
  *   Provide students with predictable course rotations and plans of study.
  *   Rely on stronger external evidence about how adult learners engage with graduate programs.
  *   Protect academic rigor through content equivalency and oversight.

This is an opportunity to ask a different question than we could reasonably ask in 2022: Where could the 8-week format strengthen our graduate programs while staying true to our academic values?

More information will be shared as this conversation continues within your colleges. Beginning these discussions now will allow us to position ourselves for a strong and thoughtful implementation in Fall 2026.

With appreciation for your care for our graduate programs,

Jennifer

Jennifer L. Schroeder, PhD

Dean

Graduate School

P: 903.886.5159



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