Interim Session Programs

Courses offered during the Interim Session enhance the College curriculum by adding diversity and flexibility; they are taught in a distinctive manner using pedagogies that may be difficult to incorporate during the regular semester.  The Interim Session provides an intensive academic experience during a period that is relatively free from regular semester distractions.  The Program is voluntary for both faculty and students, thereby creating a high degree of motivation and genuine desire to learn on the part of those involved.  All on-campus interim courses must have Faculty approval through the normal approval process.

Guidelines

• Interim Session courses are offered on a per course enrollment basis.  Enrollment tuition per course must cover all out-of-pocket expenses.  If insufficient enrollment occurs, the rate of compensation will be tuition based with instructor consent.  Instructors will be compensated on the semester overload basis, according to rank.  Final approval and appointment to teach in the Interim Session will be made by the Dean of the Faculty.  There will be no compensation in the event a course is canceled due to insufficient enrollment.  A minimum of 6-7 students is normally required to offer a non-lab, unembellished, on-campus course.  An additional fee may be charged to cover any costs of this nature.
• Courses that require additional funds (lab supplies, lab assistant, field trip, photo supplies, etc.) beyond faculty compensation must submit a budget for approval by October 1. The budget must include faculty compensation (including fringe benefits–currently 8%) and 15% administrative overhead.  The approved budget will be used to determine the minimum student requirement needed to meet the cost of offering the course.
• Students must receive a minimum of 42 hours of formal academic instruction with the instructor or with other professional(s).
• Normally, classes are taught on a daily basis beginning at 9:00 a.m., with each day equal to a week in the regular semester.  Classes are conducted in locations assigned by the Registrar.
• Requests for enrollment caps, based upon resource or space limitation, should be sent to the Program Director by the course instructor for approval.
• On the first day of classes, the instructor should provide a course syllabus which includes attendance requirements and methods of evaluation.
• Interim Session classes are not normally cancelled due to inclement weather. However, in the case of extreme weather (6″ or more of snow, ice storm), an instructor who must cancel class should ask the department secretary to post a notice on the classroom door.  Alternatively, students could be advised that class cancellations will be left on the instructor’s voice mail.  (To enter a voice mail message from home, dial 610-330-4100; press #, extension number, security code, 4, 6; leave message, then press #.)
• In courses with two instructors in which both instructors participate equally in all aspects of the course, each will receive one-half overload compensation according to rank.  Instructors will be additionally compensated for courses with off-campus components, e.g., New York Theater and New York Jazz.  In courses in which more than one instructor participates but not on an equal (full-time) basis, compensation will be prorated according to responsibility, with the approval of the Program Director. Tutorial and independent study arrangements must be approved by the instructor’s Department Head and the Dean of the Faculty.  Independent studies are not normally authorized during interim session.
• Normally, classes that spend more than three consecutive days away from campus will be accompanied by a second instructor.  In such circumstances, instructors are expected to establish and to enforce appropriate standards of student behavior.  If student misconduct warrants dismissal from the program, as determined by the instructors and the Program Director, no course credit will be given and fees will not be refunded.  While a class is off-campus, at least one instructor should be available to students at all times.
• The standard student evaluation forms will be distributed to instructors in the On-Campus Interim Session Program.
• Final grades are due within two weeks of the concluding date of the program.  Should it become necessary to assign an incomplete, the prevailing policy on incompletes will apply.
• Expense report forms are due within two weeks of the conclusion of the Interim Session Program.  Instructors should return completed forms with receipts to the Program Director for approval and forwarding to the Controller’s Office.

 

Interim Abroad Program

 

Since 1979, Lafayette has offered students the opportunity for a study abroad experience through its optional Interim Abroad Program.  Interim Abroad courses typically run for approximately three weeks, beginning in late December or early January (or immediately following May final exams). Anticipated program costs will range from $4,500 to $5,600, with that amount covering tuition, airfare, room, admission fees, and medical insurance; for some courses some meals are included in the program cost.  All students are responsible for the cost of their passports, visas, and inoculations; any meals not covered in the program cost; any medical costs that may be incurred during the trip (reimbursable through the insurance plan); and incidental and personal expenses.  A limited amount of financial aid is available to students enrolled in Interim Abroad courses, and is awarded based on demonstrated need.

The following guidelines apply to all Interim Abroad courses:

• An Interim Abroad course must offer a minimum of 42 hours of formal academic instruction, given either by Lafayette College faculty or by selected experts and professionals.  Field trips, museum visits, and course-related cultural activities may be included as formal instruction at half instruction time.
• Kimberly Bartholomew (ext. 5918) in the Office of International and Off-Campus Education handles registration for the Interim Abroad Program.  The assumption is that each course will enroll a maximum of 24 students.  Any requests for enrollment deviations should be directed to the Director of International and Off-Campus Education before the end of June.
• Budgeting for the Interim Abroad Program must begin in the summer prior to the offering of the course. The Director of International and Off-Campus Education will provide the instructors with a budget template.  Once a preliminary budget is submitted, the Director of International and Off-Campus Education will meet with the instructors to discuss the proposal. The program cost must be established by July 15.
• At least one faculty director from each program must be present to publicize the course and answer questions from students at the annual Study Abroad Fair. Program directors should provide a poster, photos and/or a PowerPoint presentation to run on a laptop, and have copies of the itinerary/syllabus available for students to consult.
• Faculty should arrange at least one (but preferably two to three) orientation sessions before the end of classes in the fall.  Faculty are asked to provide students with a course syllabus that sets forth all academic requirements and specifies the method of evaluation.  In addition, faculty should distribute an information sheet regarding travel arrangements, passports, special conditions in host country, and other practical matters.
• Each student and his/her parent(s) or guardian(s) will be asked to sign a Release and Waiver of Responsibility.
• All faculty directors will be required to attend a pre-departure orientation in early December that will cover issues such as emergency procedures and college policies.
• Faculty are authorized to establish and to enforce appropriate standards of student behavior.  If student misconduct warrants dismissal from the program, as determined by the instructors, the Director of International and Off-Campus Education and the Dean of the Faculty, the instructors will be responsible for assisting the student in making return travel arrangements to the U.S.  No course credit will be given, and fees will not be refunded.
• Normally, two faculty, preferably both from Lafayette, will accompany each group; at least one should be fluent in the language of the country being visited.  Faculty share responsibility for teaching and evaluating students; both should live in the same residence as the students and travel with the group, unless other arrangements are approved by the Director of International and Off-Campus Education prior to departure.
• Once located in a foreign country, each faculty member may schedule brief periods away from the group during the regular program provided that (a) his/her absence is on days when course instruction or other group activities are not taking place, (b) he/she is reachable on short notice, and (c) the second faculty member remains with the group. Students may request permission from the instructors to leave the group for brief periods when course instruction or other group activities are not taking place.  In such event, instructors should know in advance students’ travel arrangements, including destination, departure and arrival times, mode of travel, contact person, phone number, and travel companions.  Neither instructors nor students should schedule any independent travel away from the group within 24 hours of departure for the U.S.
• The Office of International and Off-Campus Education will administer web-based evaluations of the logistical components of the program, including international and in-country travel, accommodations, meals, cultural activities and excursions, and scheduling.  Results will be made available to the Off-Campus Studies Committee and to the program instructors upon request.
• Final grades are due within two weeks of the concluding date of the program.  Should it become necessary to assign an incomplete, the prevailing policy on incompletes will apply.
• Expense report forms are due within two weeks of the conclusion of the Interim Abroad Program or by June 15, whichever is sooner.  Faculty should return completed forms with receipts to the Director of International and Off-Campus Education for approval and for forwarding to the Controller’s Office.

Faculty interested in developing an Interim Abroad course should contact the Director of International and Off-Campus Education at ext. 5262 or keeslerr@lafayette.edu.