University President Teresa A. Sullivan introduced the possibility of a three-year bachelor's degree at a Faculty Senate meeting Monday. The program might be paired, Sullivan suggested, with a one-year master's degree, allowing students to obtain both degrees in just four years.
About three-quarters of University students enter with some kind of advanced standing, Sullivan said, and those students average 18 hours of credit.
"Instead of double and triple majoring, it might make more sense to get two degrees," Provost Arthur Garson said.
Garson said although it is certainly possible for students to graduate in three years, only about 50 do so each year.
"If a substantial number of students were to take up this opportunity, the University would demonstrate increased degree productivity; increased facility use, especially in the summer and January terms; and we could increase enrollments of subsequent incoming classes," Sullivan said.
Three-year degrees could help not just the University, but also students short on time and money.
"A four-year combination of an accelerated bachelor's and master's degree would offer high-achieving students the potential to complete two degrees in less time than the average undergraduate earns a bachelor's at peer universities," she said.
The proposal is at least partially in response to the expected findings of Gov. Bob McDonnell's Commission on Higher Education Reform, Innovation, and Investment. Moreover, that commission is likely to suggest that the University emphasize online learning and using facilities during the summer, Sullivan said during the Faculty Senate meeting.
"We're looking at how to distinguish the University, and how to respond to what the commission and governor were talking about," Garson said.
Nursing Prof. Emily Drake, who heads the undergraduate nursing program, said her program had one student on a three-year track who was performing well.
Sullivan added that even though many students could graduate in three years, not all will choose to do so.
Maurie McInnis, associate dean for undergraduate academic programs, said that it was too early for the deans of the College to have formulated an opinion on the three-year Bachelor's.
Garson cautioned that the three-year bachelor's degree is still in its formative stages and still very much up in the air.
"The traditional way of doing this is through the faculty and students," he said. "My guess is the next place this would go is the faculty senate for some real debate and real thought"
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