News & Events

To All Students and Academic Staff
From: The President’s Office

Starting in the 2017 Spring Semester, Meiji University will replace the current setup of seven periods in a day (90 minutes per class) with a six-period (100 minutes per class). Also the university will partially change the academic calendar by shortening the semester from 15 weeks to 14 weeks. Our aim is to put together a flexible academic calendar while offering diverse and interesting classes. The university intends to go beyond the traditional teaching approach and enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning, within the framework of the number of legally required course hours. 
We'd like to ask all of you to take a look at the outline of the new academic calendar and timetable (which is shown below) so that you will have a basic understanding of the coming 2017 changes ahead of time. We'd also like to ask for your understanding as we adopt the new timetable. 
In implementing these changes, we will make every effort to enrich your learning environment and campus life.


［Outline of the Academic Calendar Changes Starting in the 2017 Academic Year］ 
1. The course term of each semester will be shortened from 15 weeks to 14 weeks. 
　By changing the duration of weekly classes to 100 minutes, the length of each semester will be reduced from the previous 15 weeks to 14 weeks. By further dividing the 14 weeks of each semester into a first and second half of seven weeks each, a course term framework enabling some classes to be completed in seven weeks will be established in addition to semester classes spanning 14 weeks. * Some Undergraduate Schools will not introduce the seven week system.

2. Academic Calendar Across All Campuses
The academic calendars of the Ikuta campus and other campuses have differed due to differences in the schedules of the Meidai Festival and Ikumei Festival. The academic calendars for the four campuses will be unified by applying class suspension measures across all campuses during both school festivals.

3. New Establishment of the University Festival Week
　When the university festival is on, a fixed number of days without classes will be reserved as the “University Festival Week” when the university festival is on.

4. Holiday Compensation Classes
Classes will be held on the four days of university holidays and national holidays. Because of the 14 week system the number of compensation classes will be slightly reduced.

5. Newly set dates for class holidays in 2017
No classes will be held on the following days.
(1) Weekdays during Golden Week (May 1 and 2)
(2) Weekdays and Saturdays during the University Festival Week (November 2, 4, 24, and 25)
(3) The day of the National Center Test for University Admissions (January 13)
* Classes may be held during University Festival Week in the Graduate Schools, the Law School and the Professional Graduate School.

6. 2017 Academic Year Calendar (Uniform Across All Campuses )
≫2017 Academic Year Schedule
≫2017 Academic Year Calendar

* Classes to be completed in seven weeks are shown as (S1, S2, F1 and F2). Arrangements depend on each school.
* Classes will not be held between November 1-5 and November 23-26 due to University Festival Week.


[Outline of the Changes to the Timetable Starting in the 2017 Academic Year］
1. A six-period timetable with 100 minute slots.
The current timetable of seven periods in a day (90 minutes per slot) will be replaced with a six-period (100 minutes per slot) timetable. This will unify the timetable across all campuses.
* The new timetable will not be used by the Graduate School of Governance Studies and the Graduate School of Global Business.

2. The division of each 100-minute slot into 50-minute modules
Each class, of a 100minutes, will be divided into two 50-minute modules (a & b).
The 50-minute modules (a & b) could be utilized in the following way: a lecture could be given in module (a) (the first half of the class). Then discussions or comprehension quizzes could take place in module (b) (the second half of the class). Alternatively, 50-minute unit classes could be implemented twice a week as a single class for a more effective educational result.

3. Setting up supplementary modules
In addition to the usual six period system, a morning module (Mm) in the early morning, a lunch module (Lm) during lunchtime, and a night module (Nm) after the end of the sixth period will be established.
As a general rule, faculty members should use the Mm as a reserve module, the Lm as a module for the lunch break, and the Nm as an after-school module for adult education. If necessary, however, the modules can also be used for supplementary classes. For example, they can be used for regular or supplemental instruction, or combined with ordinary class hours for intensive instruction.

4. Promotion of active learning using the new instruction timetable
As described above, starting in the 2017 academic year, each weekly class period will be extended by 10 minutes and will be divided into modules. Also, a flexible structure will be established for setting up class slots. These changes will make it possible for teaching staff to incorporate active learning into their classes, in order to enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning. The new timetable will allow for more appealing classes to be developed for students, and the further enhancement of the educational potential of Meiji University.

5. New Instruction Timetable Starting in the 2017 Academic Year (All Campuses)

* Classes held on weeknights by Graduate Schools may be held during the 5b to Nm time periods.
* Classes held on weekdays by the Graduate School of Governance Studies and Graduate School of Global Business will be taught using the conventional 90-minute, 15-week schedule.