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SiG MT 39 hen Zach Clausen started college at Great Falls College Montana State University (GFC MSU) having a job while taking classes full-time wasn't an option. "Last semester I had 16 credits," says Clausen of Simms, Mont. "I would get to campus at 7 a.m. and leave aer 5:30 p.m. with a one- hour lunch break. My schedule was prey packed - there was no time for a job." at could change this fall with the implementation of the college's 8-Week Advantage Program. "With the 8-Week Advantage Program, the traditional 16-week semester is broken into two 8-week blocks," explains Troy Stoddard, Director of Advising and Career Center, "which will allow students to focus on two or three classes at a time instead of five or six." With the 8-Week Advantage Program, a full-time student would be able to take six to nine credits in the first eight weeks and another six to nine credits the second eight weeks, finishing 12 to 18 credits in a 16-week semester. "e faculty has redesigned their classes to meet the same objectives as before but in a shorter time frame. Classes may meet more oen during the week, over an expanded time or incorporate some on-line class time," explains Stoddard. "e classes will be more focused and more manageable. With fewer classes, students will have fewer deadlines to meet." Designed using high quality, high impact practices, the 8-Week Advantage Program focuses on student success by increasing knowledge retention and on-time graduation, according to Dr. Susan Wolff, GFC MSU CEO and Dean. Great Falls College MSU's 8-Week Advantage Program saves students time and money By Shannon Ruckman Photography By Sara Young Innovative, high impact course scheduling focuses on flexibility and student success Zach Clausen welds on a project in one of the GFC MSU vocational classrooms. Clausen said he developed a passion for welding when growing up on a farm. W

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