The Associated Press

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Western Kentucky University is planning an abbreviated "January term" starting in 2006 to give students another option to complete course requirements.

The new term will feature mainly field courses, online courses, special certificate programs and some make-up courses.

Provost Barbara Burch presented the program last week to the school's Senate Executive Committee and said it will not interrupt the holiday schedule because the fall and spring semesters, which are currently 16 weeks long, will be reduced to 15 weeks. The extra time will be made up by tacking an extra 5 minutes onto each class.

While several professors say they are happy with the prospect of a 3-week January term, many don't agree with the way its been brought about. Two years ago, Burch met with the faculty's calendar committee to discuss the possibility, but the committee turned it down.

"In the early stages, there were a number of concerns and problems," Burch said. "But we have moved very slowly and looked at each one of these factors, and managed to work out most of them."

Some faculty members are not happy that the faculty senate was not consulted.

"I think the university senate needs to look at it in some detail," said Sherrie Serros, associate professor of mathematics. "Theres some concern among the faculty about how it affects fall and spring semesters."

There are still a few wrinkles in the January term plan, such as providing housing and deciding what classes to offer. But Burch said the next 18 months should be sufficient time to work those out.