University of Virginia Library

Faculty Reduces
Required Hours

By CHIP PERRY

College students may take a
minimum of 12 course hours
per semester beginning next
fall, according to a resolution
passed March 29 by the
Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Proposed by the faculty's
Curriculum and Educational
Policy Committee at the
suggestion of association deans,
the resolution calls for the
reduction of a College
student's normal course load to
no fewer than 12 and no more
than 18 semester hours.

Present College regulations
require students to carry no
less than 14 and no more than
17 semester hours.

The faculty decision does
not affect the present
requirement of a minimum 120
semester hours for graduation,
History Prof. Martin J. Havran
said.

A student is expected to
earn at least 54 semester hours
before his fifth semester at the
University, the faculty
resolution stated. Failure to
attain such totals will require a
student to attend the summer
session.

Faculty members also
approved a recommendation to
grant leaves of absence to
students who can justify them
with written applications.
Leaves of absence would
enable students to be away
from the University for a
semester without officially
withdrawing and reapplying for
admission.

Faculty Dean Irby B.
Cauthen Jr. cited the
continuing improvement in
College students' academic
performance. Rising numbers
of students are on the Dean's
List, he said, and for the first
time in many years, no
first-year student was given
academic suspension last
semester.

In other action, the faculty
adopted a resolution which
calls for the chairman of the
Faculty Committee on
Athletics to be appointed to
the University Athletic
Advisory Council. This action
would end the faculty's limited
access to policy-making bodies
on athletics and would provide
a regular communication link
with these bodies.

The faculty also approved
changes and additions in course
offerings for the art, German,
history, religion, and sociology
and anthropology departments.