SURVEY:

DO WE WANT A NEW SEMESTER STRUCTURE?

A new semester structure at NMBU? This autumn, the theme has been a subject for debate and concern in various committees, councils, and hearings. Do the rest of the students agree with the concerns, or are they ready for a change? Tuntreet has sent out a survey and has received the opinion of 169 students.

Journalist: Sofie Bergset Janols

Illustrator: Oda Braar Wæge

What’s all the fuzz really??

In the last issue of Tuntreet we could read about how the semester structure was under assessment. The consultation deadline is 1 November, and until then, all faculties, committees and student councils will take a position on the matter. Three models have been studied and evaluated against each other: the current model, the seminar model, and the European model. The background for the proposed changes is a better study quality at NMBU. Changing the semester structure will lead to a more even use of the study year with less courses at the same time. Emphasis is also placed on more flexibility in the length of courses, more project-based learning and more interdisciplinary.

We could also read that the proposal had been met with skepticism. At the Student Parliament 4, concern was expressed about what kind of impact a change will have on maturity courses, the joy of learning, part-time students, and students with absence due to illness. Mental health and stress in connection with more frequent exam periods were also addressed. The Student Parliament, as well as Samfunnet and UKA, are also afraid of how more exams will affect student volunteering and the social environment in Ås.

The semester structures summarized:

The current model is as we know separated into two parallels and three blocks. The parallels run from the start of September until the end of December, and the start of February until the end of May. The blocks last for 3-4 weeks in August, January, and June.

The Seminar model splits the semester into two teaching periods, with two courses á 7.5 credits in each period. These last for ten weeks. With the seminar model, the Autumn semester lasts from the middle of August to the end of January, and the Spring semester lasts from the start of February until the end of June.
The European model splits the year into six periods of six weeks, each giving 10 credits. The autumn semester starts in August and ends in January, and the Spring semester goes from the end of January until the end of June.
In all the semester structures it is possible for courses to span over several teaching
periods, but in the European model this only applies to the ten-point courses and not the five-point courses.

Figure 2: How satisfied are you with the current semester structure?

Satisfied but not completely against change

Figure 3: How positive are you to a new semester structure?

The majority of those who responded to the survey are satisfied or very satisfied with the current semester structure. The answers are distributed almost equally between the faculties. KBM, the NMBU School of Business and Economic and MINA seem to be a little less satisfied with the current structure. On a scale of 1-5, most of the faculties rank at 4.

Correspondingly, the majority answer that they are more negative than positive to a new semester structure. Nevertheless, a good proportion are both satisfied with the current model and positive about change.

How do the NMBU students like to learn?

The current model adds up to block courses of 3-4 weeks and parallels of 13 weeks. A seminar model will add up to 10 weeks of teaching periods, while the European model will add up to 6 weeks at a time. How are these in line with the students’ preferences?

Figure 4: Which semester structure are you most positive about?

The majority prefer a moderate teaching period of 7-10 weeks and set the less intensive period of 11-13 weeks as a second choice. In third place is a 4-6 weeklong period, and the 3-week period comes last. There are some exceptions to the rule. LANDSAM likes to spread the teaching over 11-13 weeks, while a very small proportion of KBM think the same. At REALTEK, the two longest periods receive equally high support.

In the comment section in the survey, some also pointed out that they prefer different intensities for different subjects. Some subjects are maturation subjects and need a longer period of time. In other courses, more intensive learning may be more suiting.

More school and stress?

Many express concern that more frequent exams will lead to spending more time studying for exams and working on studies. While some believe that more exams spread out over the year can lead to less exam stress, most respond that more exams will result in more stress. Today, most students in the survey spend between 21 and 40 hours per week on studies. 38% of the students believe that they would spend more time studying with a different semester structure. 20% do not think so, 6% answer that they had neither spent more nor less, while 36% no not know.

The student life outside of the studies

For many, part-time jobs and various positions are a natural part of student life. 120 of those who responded to the survey have stated that they work alongside their studies. In Ås, the spirit of volunteering is also particularly strong, and many spend hour volunteering during the semester. Out of the 122 who answered that they get involved in positions in their spare time. 61% answer that they would have to cut back on the number of hours. 38% would still not reduce the number of hours.

Hard to know

Several in the studies point out that it is difficult to know how a changed semester structure will affect them. Some say so because the change has not happened yet, and others because they do not feel they know enough about the project. In general, there is a lack of information from NMBU about the project, the reason behind it, student participation and the consequences it will have for the students.

Figure 5: “Preferred teaching period”

Figur 6: “Would you become more or less stressed by more exams, but fewer in the same period?”

Figure 7: “How many hours do you spend studying a week?”

Figure 8: “How many hours do you spend on volunteering a week?”

Figure 9: “How familiar are you with the proposal to change the semester structure?”

Figure 10: “How satisfied are you with the flow of information from NMBU regarding the project?”

Comments from participants in the survey:

“I am very fond of the blocks. There you really get to concentrate on one subject. But maybe it's too much if it's like that all year ...”

“Why the heck should all this be decided over our heads without anyone interfering with the students? If those in the management at NMBU believe that one can only readjust the structure without it having consequences for the social and voluntary, then they are out of their minds. Ås is a popular place to study, primarily due to the strong social and voluntary culture we have here. However, this exceptional volunteering is dependent on having periods during the semester that are less intensive. With a new semester structure, there will always be exams and we must then downgrade much of the voluntary work. This will lead to a less rewarding everyday life and Ås as a place of study will quickly become less attractive.”

“I have the impression that a new structure will provide less flexibility in which subjects one can take, and less room to shape one's own study plan.”

“NMBU must (!) engage with active participation for the students when they are making major changes like this. The students are NMBU's most important resources and must be involved throughout the process.”

“An important part of being a student is learning to prioritize and manage your time in a smart way. I am afraid that with a more intense semester structure we will lose the training in prioritizing and planning work with many different subjects at the same time. In addition, there are many subjects that are maturation courses, and which therefore cannot be taught with a short block.”

"I believe that starting the semester earlier could make it easier for the associations. Now you have to wait until September before you get started properly with meetings and exercises. The semester can be quite short and stressful in the associations with the current semester structure.”

“I would not have been at NMBU if were not for the social environment around the school. With the change in the semester structure there is no doubt that much of that environment is lost and Ås’ good reputation is weakened.”

“Do not want a semester structure that leads to a "need" to study for exams during the Christmas holidays, and possibly during the Easter holidays. I prefer to finish courses / exams before a holiday, and not postpone it until after the holiday.”

“This is an issue where it is important that the management listens to us students!! We are the ones who know best what it is like to be a student today!”

“I want the courses to be as courses in the January and August blocks are organized (at least the 5-point courses). It is much easier to think of only one topic at a time.”

“I would like the school to be able to consider two periods as it is at NTNU for example. I think the current model makes the semester too short for project subjects of 15 and 20 points. Especially since in the middle of the study there are poor offers in the blocks and often up to the obligatory 30 points in the parallels.”

“Certain courses need to mature, and then it's fine with a whole semester. Other subjects are easy to do intensively. Therefore, keep the semester system we have.”

“I think the structure we have is good! I know many move to NMBU to have this structure in the semester!”