From experimentation to engagement

Lynn University has remained steadfast in its mission to provide an innovative, global and personalized education, leveraging experimentation, technology and opportunities to fulfill its 2025 strategic plan. 

A cornerstone of Lynn's successful new academic programs and models is the block schedule, which launched in August 2020 as part of the university's "roadmap to reopening" amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The innovative structure divided the traditional undergraduate semester into four, four-week sessions and allowed students to choose on-campus or remote instruction.  

Lynn faculty immediately noticed the benefits of the flexible block schedule program, which was initially implemented to limit the number of people students encountered each day and provide little academic disruption in the shift to virtual learning.  

Today, the flexibility provided by the block schedule program plays a significant role in the success of Lynn students. 

"We always offered a four-week summer school at the end of the semester, and those students would do great," said Mike Petroski, assistant vice president of academic affairs at Lynn. "After expanding the block scheduling program, we discovered grades were higher, absences were lower and withdrawals were down, among other positive outcomes."  

Lynn's block schedule allows students to take up to two courses per session. First-year students can earn up to 16 credits in the fall and 17 in the spring semester, while upperclassmen can earn up to 15 credits. Students enrolled in a three-year degree program can take two courses in each session, for a total of up to 24 credits per semester. 

"Some students chose Lynn specifically because of our block scheduling, saying it better suits their learning style," said Petroski. "Our measurements show that many students learn better this way. They like the fact that they're studying just one or two topics at a time. They're more focused, their anxiety is reduced, and they enjoy having more quality time with their professors."

Petroski distributes a survey to collect student feedback after each semester. Eighty percent of the students report positive feedback about the block schedule. 

"I chose Lynn because of its innovative block schedule system and amazing academic faculty," said Jorge Suarez La Torre '27, a social impact and entrepreneurship major from Guayama, Puerto Rico. 

Petroski also notes that some students enjoy receiving their grades sooner with block scheduling. "Getting that positive feedback in a shorter, quicker timeframe helps keep them motivated," said Petroski. On another note, students who may not have done well in a class don't have to wait a year to retake the course; they can try again in a different block.  

Flexible Fridays also emerged as a key benefit of the block scheduling program. Classes are scheduled Monday through Thursday, leaving Fridays available for labs, internships, tutoring sessions, student organization meetings and other out-of-classroom experiences. Some students have spent their free time catching up on classwork and projects while others participate in volunteer activities.  

"Having class-free Fridays has been incredibly impactful," said An'Zanay Allen '23. "I usually dedicate the day to being productive by completing homework or working for Career and Alumni Connections as a social media intern. Having this dedicated time for my internship on Fridays allows me to concentrate more fully on academics earlier in the week."

Beyond Fridays, the block schedule offers flexibility for students who want to study abroad or take a 40-hour-per-week internship to help them better prepare for post-grad life. 

True to Lynn's belief in experimentation, after noticing students were struggling with the four-week freshman-level algebra class, faculty decided to rework the course as an eight-week block schedule. 

Petroski and his team also provide guidance to instructors as to how they can keep students engaged during the 2.5-hour classes. This often means offering a mix between lecturing and having students break into a group activity or give a presentation. 

"At Lynn, we'll always experiment to see what works best for our students," said Petroski.  

Among Lynn's other advancements to its academic models and programs is its collaboration with Kaplan, which supported enrollment and student success in Lynn's online undergraduate degrees. Beginning in Fall 2021, Kaplan helped expand Lynn's online offerings and improve its adult learner reach to meet evolving student and industry needs.