Document Type

Report

Publication Date

1969

Abstract

A survey was undertaken in the spring of 1969, as part of the Interlude Research Program, to (a) determine the attitudes of U.S. undergraduate institutions towards incorporation of formal off-campus experiences (academic interludes) as part of their educational program; (b) learn something about the current extent of ongoing interlude programs; (c) indicate some of the parameters of the ongoing programs; and (d) discover how some of those concerned with ongoing programs on individual campuses rate their own programs. The survey, based on responses to a questionnaire sent to as many four-year undergraduate (college and university) institutions as could be identified, resulted in the following general conclusions:

1. The incorporation of an interlude program into standard curricula has not yet been formally considered at a substantial majority of respondent institutions.
2. Where formal action has been taken on specific interlude initiation proposals, a very high percentage of proposal acceptance has occurred.
3. Most respondent interlude programs are experienced by a relatively small percentage of the institution's total undergraduate student body.
4. Most ongoing respondent programs have been in operation for a relatively short time.
5. Ongoing programs are seen by respondents as strongly favorable to development of student participants, and as widely approved both by students from the same campus who do not participate in the interlude opportunity and by those external to the campus who are familiar with them.

A total of 917 institutions responded to the survey. In addition to questionnaire results, this report discusses major interlude models, some ongoing research, and some political proposals concerning comprehensive programs for interlude activities which would involve all young people.

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