For those who assume BYU-Idaho’s motto is “Rethought Education,” think again: more changes are still in order.

Many at BYU-I express concern that students whose tracks include a summer semester are not receiving the same opportunities as those on the fall/winter track. “Students take a hit with the classes offered in the summer. They just don’t have the same opportunities,” said Samuel Clay, a professor in the Psychology Department.

Often students are frustrated by the limited variety of classes available in the summer.

Due to the number of teachers taking vacation time in the summer, the school simply cannot maintain the same classes available in the fall and winter. Smaller departments are not capable of offering a full course selection in the summer.

In addition, some classes simply do not lend themselves well to an eight-week format. Students enrolled in Chinese 101 or Chemistry 352 on a block may find the concentrated workload daunting and unmanageable. However, for students on a summer/fall or winter/summer track, this may be their only option.

On the other hand, some classes work as well or even better on a block. Some students prefer certain classes on a block, such as athletics, study skills and some religion classes. For these reasons, BYU-I will always retain block classes in all semesters, said Roy Huff, associate academic vice-president.

BYU-I’s innovative track system has undoubtedly been a boon to the influx of students it has made room for. There is no question it should remain in some form.

However, a semester that offers very little outside of block classes presents a number of disadvantages to the students who attend it. Of 11,000 students who all pay the same tuition, more than half have little choice but to attend school during a condensed semester.

Fortunately, the administration recognizes the problem of the summer semester and is brainstorming ways to address it.

“The quality of the summer experience compared to the fall and winter is quite different,” Huff said.

Possible solutions may involve an alteration of the academic calendar to create slightly shorter semesters or making adjustments to current staff contracts. Decisions are still pending and are subject to approval by the BYU-Idaho Board of Trustees, which includes the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Outcomes aim at creating a summer semester that would offer a majority of semester-long classes and a class selection equivalent to those of the fall and winter semesters.

The transition the university has made to a track system has been resourceful, inspired and should be applauded. Nevertheless, a summer semester so distinctly divided into two blocks presents a new challenge and opportunity.

Improving the current track system by creating three completely equal semesters would continue to place BYU-I at the forefront of innovation in universities nationwide. It is the next step in the legacy of “Rethinking Education.”