Earlier this year, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College piloted a non-traditional way for students to achieve their educational goals.
The college organized course offerings into a schedule that allows students to only come to campus on Fridays to earn a degree. In fact, students have the potential to earn an associate in arts, a two-year degree equipped to transfer to any of the four-year state universities, in as little as 64 Fridays.
“Through conversations with students and local employers, we found that employers might not be able or willing to adjust their employees’ schedules to take off multiple days or time periods each week to go to school,” Rowan-Cabarrus President Dr. Carol Spalding said in a news release. “However, the idea of adjusting schedules to allow for a single free day is more appealing to employers and employees alike.”
Most of the classes are set up in a hybrid format which allows students to do some work independently at their convenience outside of the classroom on the computer and optimizes their time on campus. The schedule also provides some offerings exclusively online.
“Judging from the courses’ popularity, our students find that hybrid options provide the best of both worlds,” said Dr. Rod Townley, vice president of academic programs at Rowan-Cabarrus. “You still get the face-to-face interaction that helps many students fully learn, but students don’t waste unnecessary time on campus doing assignments, lectures or readings simply while sitting next to their peers. Students can adjust their busy schedules to do this work when it is most convenient for them.”
These Friday-only classes are available at both North and South campuses and online.
“Classes essentially meet every other Friday,” said Townley. “The schedule is designed so that one has a full schedule on Fridays throughout the 16-week semester. One Friday, a student will have one set of classes, and the next Friday will offer another set of classes.”
Credits cost $72 per credit hour — meaning that a semester’s worth of tuition could cost around $1,000.
Students may apply online at www.rccc.edu/apply2014, or on campus. Financial aid assistance through the federal government takes time to process, so prospective students should act as soon as possible if they’re planning to use this assistance. For complete details, see the Rowan-Cabarrus website at www.rccc.edu/recordsregistration/ or stop in to the college’s one stop center, Navigation Station.
For more information about the Friday A.A. degree program at Rowan-Cabarrus, including a sample schedule, visit www.rccc.edu/friday or call 704-216-7222. The college is registering students through Aug. 13 for fall classes; classes begin Aug. 18.