Many Tennessee community colleges are increasing the number of courses offered in shorter 7-week terms. Accelerated 7-week courses may allow students to focus on fewer courses at a time, improving student motivation and momentum. Additionally, these courses provide the flexibility of more entry and exit points, which may help students accommodate their external commitments and progress toward a degree.
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Student outcomes in 7-week courses are generally positive but vary by student group and course.
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Students, faculty, and staff identify tradeoffs between 7-week and traditional courses, noting that while 7-week courses can boost student motivation, the fast pace can be difficult to manage.
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Students highlight their need for clear, accessible information about 7-week course options and expectations.
Research Details
- Project Title: Fast Track to Success? A Mixed Methods Study of Accelerated Course Formats
- Project Funder: Ascendium Education Group
- Project Timeline: December 2022 through November 2024
- Pre-Registration of Quantitative Analysis
- Partner Colleges
Research about Accelerated Courses
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Summary of Project Findings (October 2024)
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Policy Brief #1: Accelerated Courses at Tennessee Community Colleges (February 2024)
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Policy Brief #1 uses administrative data to present descriptive analyses that explore enrollment and student success in 7-week courses at Tennessee's community colleges.
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Policy Brief #2: Course Length and Student Success: Quantitative Analysis of 7-Week Courses (June 2024)
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Policy Brief #2 uses administrative data and more advanced statistical methods to estimate relationships between 7-week courses and student outcomes, including course grades, GPA, credit attainment, and persistence.
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Policy Brief #3: Students, Faculty, and Staff Experiences with 7-Week Courses (October 2024)
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Policy Brief #3 uses interview and survey data to understand how students perceive courses of different lengths, how instructors adapt their practices and course design to accommodate the 7-week format, and how these courses affect staff workflow and workload.
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Policy Brief #4: A Deeper Dive into Challenges and Opportunities in Accelerated Courses (December 2024)
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Policy Brief #4 uses descriptive analyses to explore four topics related to accelerated courses that emerged from quantitative and qualitative insights in this study: future course success in sequenced courses, success in the second accelerated session, learning support, and course delivery method.
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Presentations about Accelerated Courses