Oct. 22, 2019—Beginning in the 2020-2021 academic year, Missouri Western State University will adopt a flexible approach to class scheduling called “Gold Fridays,” giving students greater flexibility to engage in applied learning opportunities outside of the classroom.
Under the revised academic schedule, most classes will be held Monday through Thursday, leaving Fridays for students to engage in internships, research with a faculty member, service learning or other applied learning opportunities.
“Our primary focus will be to retain quality and ensure student success,” said Matt Wilson, Missouri Western’s president. “Instructional time and course expectations will remain the same, but students will now have greater flexibility to work, to prepare for the following week of classes and, most importantly, to pursue hands-on applied learning opportunities. Wise use of their Gold Fridays will enhance students’ learning experiences and ultimately increase the value of their degrees.”
A four-day class schedule may not be appropriate for every program, President Wilson said, but most programs will be adapted. Courses will be taught for the same amount of classroom time and involve the same academic rigor as before. They will simply be organized a bit differently throughout the week to allow for a more concentrated and purposeful set of experiential learning opportunities on Fridays.
Gold Fridays are not intended to be a “day off,” but to offer flexibility for more engagement and learning opportunities. It would also allow students to access services like tutoring, academic advising and career services without having to worry about conflicts with class time. Traveling for competitions, rehearsals, practices, extracurricular and club activities could also be focused on Fridays.
President Wilson sees Gold Fridays as a recruiting tool.
“No other university in the area is doing anything like this,” President Wilson said. “I think prospective students will appreciate this innovative approach to providing learning opportunities outside the classroom.”
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.