School organization

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 358.

Campus is the land on which a college or university stands. The main buildings on a campus usually include classroom buildings, an administration building, a library, laboratories, a gymnasium, an athletic field and stadium, and dormitories. Many institutions have a building, often called a union, where social gatherings, plays, and dances may be held. Many of today's universities and colleges have more than one campus.

Administration. The organization of state, province, and city-supported institutions is generally about the same as that of other universities and colleges. They usually offer about the same courses of study, although state institutions often emphasize technical and professional education more than private schools.

In most cases, a president or chancellor is the chief administrator of a university or college. Other officials handle educational programs, registration, management of funds, and collection of tuition. A dean of students helps direct discipline and advise students.

Each college or separate school of a university generally has an academic dean or director. He or she leads the faculty in preparing the course of study for the college or school, and takes part in university planning.

Faculty includes the teachers of a college or university. A college's faculty is divided into departments. Each department deals with one general course of study, such as English, mathematics, or physics. Each department has a chairman, who is usually a professor. Under the chairman are other professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and instructors. Some departments also have teaching fellows or research fellows. These are graduate students who teach or do research part-time. Some faculties include scientists or other workers whose main activity is research, not teaching. Their research is supported by the institution or by funds granted the institution by individuals or groups having specific research interests. The institutions do much research under contract with the federal government.

The student body of a university or college is divided into graduates and undergraduates. Graduates have already received their bachelor's degree and are working more or less independently for a master's or doctor's degree. Undergraduates are studying for their bachelor's degree. The undergraduates belong to one of four classes--freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior--according to year of study. Most schools also admit special students. These students take a number of courses, but do not work toward a degree.

The calendar is the program of a school year. It is divided according to one of three systems. The most common system divides the calendar into two semesters of about 16 weeks each. The first semester begins in August or September. The second semester begins in January or early February. The school year ends in May or June with commencement, or graduation exercises (see GRADUATION). Many schools also hold a six- to eight-week summer session. By attending school all year, students may graduate in three years instead of four.

In the quarter system, the year is divided into four quarters of 10, 11, or 12 weeks each. The first quarter begins in the fall. Winter holidays come between the first and second quarters, and spring holidays between the second and third. Many students do not attend the fourth, or summer, quarter. The trimester system divides the year into three trimesters of about 15 weeks each.