Manhattan University’s campus. @MANHATTAN.EDU / INSTAGRAM
Laili Shahrestani, Features Editor
Manhattan University recently announced the launch of Flex Start, a program in which students who missed the traditional start of the semester will have the opportunity to begin in late September, instead of waiting until the following term. The enrollment period for Flex Start closes on Sept. 17, and the first official day of the program will begin on Sept. 22.
The idea was first brought about by President Frederick Bonato, Ph.D., who believed the program would meet the needs of individuals who were late to enroll in the university.
Flex Start is composed of a 12-week accelerated schedule, and all the coursework that was missed over the first few weeks of traditional instruction will be added into the curriculum. Students who enroll in Flex Start will still have access to financial aid and merit scholarships, as well as housing assignments.
Benjamin Boivin, the director of undergraduate admissions, spoke to The Quadrangle about how Flex Start opens up an opportunity for students who may not have been fully ready to commit to college, and have had a change of heart.
“I think right now, in the challenging enrollment landscape, Flex Start gives students the opportunity to enroll at Manhattan [University] after they made a different decision or got wet feet about starting college and changed their mind last minute,” Boivin said.
Boivin also went on to speak about how there are prospective transfer students who have expressed interest in coming to MU and joining Flex Start, after realizing that their previous institution was not well-suited for them.
“I think transfer students, a lot of times, have already come from a difficult background, where they may have had a bad experience at their previous institutions,” Boivin said. “We’re hearing from prospective Flex Start students right now who have not received living arrangements from the schools they are coming from and are saying that if Manhattan [University] still has any resident halls available, they want to come here instead.”
While Flex Start provides an opportunity for students to enroll in the semester late, some may have concerns in regards to falling behind or not being able to catch up to students who have been on campus since the beginning of the semester in August. With that said, some professors are considering incorporating asynchronous assignments in addition to the regular in-person coursework to ensure all the material gets covered in 12 weeks, while other professors may have additional requirements.
Bridget Chalk, Ph.D., interim provost and professor of English, explained some of the adjustments that will be made for all Flex Start students, so that they do not fall behind.
“All of the courses in this program are first-year requirements for all students, so they will stay on track for whatever their major is,” Chalk said. “These students will also be incorporated into our First Year Experience programming, because the sections will be somewhat smaller than other sections, and all the instructors will be really intentional about making sure each student is plugged into all of the different events and support services around campus.”
Margaret Groarke, Ph.D., department chairperson of history, political & international studies, added on to what accommodations will be given to Flex Start students.
“Flex Start students are going to be in separate classes during the first semester, so all of them in the class will be working at the same pace to cover all the class material in 12 weeks instead of 14,” Groarke said. “Once they complete that first semester, then they’ll be in the same position as everybody else.”
Groarke also went on to speak about how another core class in the department will be opening up just for Flex Start students.
“My department is offering a section of the core class in political science, which we already have three sections running, but we’ll start another section,” Groarke said. “If there are [Flex Start] students signed up, they’ll work together and complete the semester together.”
In addition to not falling behind academically, MU is making an effort to ensure that these students feel integrated with the campus community socially, despite not being present from the start of the academic year. Chalk spoke to The Quadrangle in regards to the various departments and areas around campus that are assisting in providing a smooth transition for Flex Start students.
“We have a First Year Experience Committee that includes folks from Academic Affairs, Student Life, Mission and all these different areas,” Chalk said. “We’re making sure we have strategies to incorporate these students into the life of the campus. Flex Start students have just missed a few weeks, but there’s so much going on around campus that we just really want to make sure we can get them involved with everything the same way students who came in traditionally did.”
Programs such as Flex Start and other late enrollment options are not widespread amongst many private higher-education institutions, especially ones of MU’s size. With that said, Boivin expressed how this new opportunity is monumental for the university.
“I think the flexibility that Flex Start provides for a private school is really appealing,” Boivin said. “You’ll see a lot of things like this happening at state schools and community colleges with open enrollment, but it’s the first time I’ve seen something like this happen here.”