The 8-Week Advantage
Join us for a series of fun-filled events with free food and prizes, while learning about the 8-Week Advantage.
We believe you are meant to be bold and fly high.
But we get it, life happens—work, family responsibilities and unforeseen circumstances. Navigating obstacles while trying to take multiple courses can quickly derail an entire 16-week semester.
This is where the COM 8-week Advantage can help! Our 8-week sessions allow students to balance their educational and life commitments. Students take half the courses they would during a 16-week semester, which means if an unforeseen circumstance happens, the entire semester is not lost. And with multiple start dates throughout the year, students can easily re-enroll in the next session.
What is the COM 8‑Week Advantage?
Beginning in the fall of 2024, the majority of 3‑hour courses at COM will switch to an 8-week format from the longstanding 16-week format. The fall and spring semesters will be split in half with a first 8-week and second 8-week session.
When possible, students will take 8‑week courses instead of 16‑week courses, allowing them to focus on just two or three courses at a time. Students will still be able to complete the same number of hours across 16 weeks with the new 8‑week format.
This new format will help students stay on track and graduate on time. The COM 8‑Week Advantage will ensure you stay on a path toward success!
Hoop Talk - A Sideline Breakdown of the COM 8-Week Advantage
The Benefits are Huge!
Studies show the benefits of 8‑week semesters are tremendous compared to the traditional 16‑week format.
Top Four benefits of the COM 8‑Week Advantage
What About Financial Aid?
With this new 8-week format, students will still be able to receive financial aid like they do with 16-week semesters. The only change will be with the disbursement schedules. Registration will work the same way as with 16-week semesters. Students will receive financial aid disbursements to cover each session for which they have registered.
Students will still be able to complete the same number of hours across two, 8-week sessions as they would throughout a 16-week semester.
What’s even better is that part-time students will have the ability at becoming full-time by simply taking two courses during each 8-week session, which provides numerous benefits for those requiring financial aid.
New 8-Week Format
Fall/Spring Semester
8-Week Session I
8-Week Session II
16-Week Session
Summer
5-Week Session I
5-Week Session II
10-Week Session
Sample 8-Week Course Schedules
The following are for demonstration purposes only. These are not actual schedules.
Full Time
Full Time Student (2 hybrid courses each 8-Week Session)
| Session | Course | M | T | W | TH | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st 8-weeks | English 1301 | 8-9:20 | 8-9:20 | |||
| Psyc 1300 | 11-12:20 | 11-12:20 | ||||
| 2nd 8-weeks | Math 1314 | 11-1:50 | 11-1:50 | |||
| Speech 1315 | 11-12:20 | 11-12:20 |
Full Time with Co-Requisite
Full Time Student with co-requisite (2 classes each 8-Week Session)
| Session | Course | M | T | W | TH | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st 8-weeks | English 1301 | 8-9:20 | 8-9:20 | |||
| IRW 0320 | 9:30-10:50 | 9:30-10:50 | ||||
| 2nd 8-weeks | Math 0306 | 9:30-10:50 | 9:30-10:50 | 10-10:50 | ||
| Math 1332 | 8-9:20 | 8-9:20 |
Part Time
Part Time Student (1 class each 8-Week Session)
| Session | Course | M | T | W | TH | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st 8-weeks | English 1301 | 8-9:20 | 8-9:20 | |||
| 2nd 8-weeks | Math 1314 | 11-1:50 | 11-1:50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Students would still be taking their desired number of hours total across a 16-week session, only they would take half in the first eight weeks and the other half in the second.
Students enrolled in select 8-week format courses with appropriate student and institutional support have similar or improved outcomes over those enrolled in traditional 16-week format courses.
With the COM 8-Week Advantage, students will be able to focus on fewer courses at once. They would still be taking their desired number of hours total across a 16-week semester, only they would take half in the first eight weeks and the other half in the second. For some programs and courses, the 8-week model has proven to have equivalent, and sometimes enhanced, outcomes when compared to 16-week courses. Research does show that students are more likely to stay on track and graduate with the 8-week model.
While the COM 8-Week Advantage is not designed to help students graduate faster, it does create an environment where they are more likely to stay on track, pass their courses and keep going until graduation. Research across the country clearly shows increased graduation rates among students taking 8-week courses. One great benefit of the 8-week term session is that it allows students to focus on fewer courses at once.
Yes. If you are using financial aid, we encourage students to enroll in both 8-week sessions within each semester. This also applies to those who require proof of full-time status for insurance, housing, military service, etc.
Every student learns differently. However, the 8-week session will offer students a better experience as it allows them to focus on fewer courses at a time. Students will be expected to complete the same amount of contact hours and learn the same amount of content during an 8-week session as they would in the traditional 16-week semester.
Students will be expected to complete the same amount of contact hours and learn the same amount of content during an 8-week session as they would in the traditional 16-week semester. To fulfill the necessary requirements, there may be different class options made available (online vs. face-to-face), more coursework and/or longer individual class meeting times. Just remember that you’ll be taking half the hours / courses as you normally would during a 16-week semester.
When possible, students should take at least two courses per 8-week session. A student can attempt a maximum of 10 credit hours per 8-week session.
Registration timelines will not change from the current schedule. Registration for Fall opens in April and ends in October, and Spring registration opens in November and ends in March.
The tuition payment deadline for 8-week sessions will remain the same as for the current 16-week format. Students will be required to pay, or make payment plan/ financial aid arrangements, for their classes before 5 p.m. on the payment due date to avoid being dropped from their class(es).
With the COM 8-Week Advantage, students will be able to focus on fewer subjects while completing the same number of hours over a 16-week semester. Additionally, our faculty have designed 8-week courses to support student needs while meeting expected learning outcomes.
COM has no plans to increase tuition, however, for the 24-25 Academic year, tuition and fees will be assessed as a flat rate per credit hour. This flat rate will include tuition and all required fees and will be assessed per credit hour. This means there will be no more “minimum tuition.”
Many community colleges across the country are transitioning to an 8-week, or shorter, format. The reason for this is because the research clearly shows that shorter sessions provide students with a better educational experience and yield higher rates of student success- both in terms of grades and graduation rates.
No, financial aid is awarded based on full-time enrollment, or 12 credit hours, and is adjusted according to the actual enrollment at the census date (12th day of class) of each 8-week session.
The process will remain the same for requesting accommodations for your semester courses. Your academic accommodations will still apply for your classes regardless of the length of the semester.
Yes, credit hours will not change, but the frequency of when you attend class during an 8-week session will.
Yes.
The 8-week format would allow part-time students to become full-time status while only having to focus on two courses per session.
The 8-week format will still enable full-time students to maintain their current coursework. However, since they will be taking half the courses they would during a traditional 16-week semester, students will experience less stress and the possibility of burnout.
Students taking dual credit courses at their high school will continue following a 16-week semester format to align with the high school bell schedule. Students taking dual credit courses on a COM campus will take 8-week courses. Students taking online dual credit courses may take 8- or 16-week courses, depending on what is offered each semester.
As long as students take six credit hours, with at least one face-to-face, during an 8-week session, they will be considered full-time. Visit the VA website for more information.
VA Benefits
For all VA benefits – Chapters. 30,31,33 and 35 – the rate of pursuit can be affected, which can cause a change in your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) or monthly stipend. (Textbook stipends and tuition payments from VA to the College remain unchanged.)
- For the Post 9/11 (Ch. 33) benefit, students must take a minimum of three credit hours in an 8-week session, with at least one credit hour in a face-to-face course, to receive any basic housing allowance. If all three credit hours are taken online, the BAH would be 50% of the national BAH average.
- Please note: If you are enrolled for both 8-week sessions, you will need to verify your attendance with the VA at the end of the first, 8-week session. Make sure to select "still attending." This also applies if you are currently enrolled in a 16-week course.
- For Ch. 30 and 35, three credit hours in an 8-week session will be paid at 50% of your monthly stipend.
- For Ch. 31, please check with your VR&E counselor
You will only receive BAH for both 8-week sessions if you take at least four credit hours, with at least three credit hours, with at least one credit hour being face-to-face, in each session.
Hazelwood Exemption
There will be no effect on Hazlewood benefits.
Students with disabilities enrolled in any of our courses, including 8-week, may request accommodations through our Disability Services office.
8-Week Glossary of Terms
Session
Each 8-week block is referred to as a session. There are two 8-week sessions within one, 16-week semester.
Semester
A semester is a 16-week block of time.
Course
A course is a class offered by the College.
Format
This word is used to describe a model or structure (e.g., an 8-week vs 16-week format)