Can you take breaks between terms with YourPace?

[StudiousTraveller]

I asked the enrollment specialist if we are allowed to take a break between terms but didn't really feel like she was confident answering that. I plan to do some travelling, sometimes for a several weeks at a time, so am wondering if I can do a term, then take a term off, then come back to do the next term after I get home. As I explained to the enrollment specialist I don't want to pay for a term that I won't be able to use fully.

[ss20ts]

I asked the enrollment specialist if we are allowed to take a break between terms but didn't really feel like she was confident answering that. I plan to do some travelling, sometimes for a several weeks at a time, so am wondering if I can do a term, then take a term off, then come back to do the next term after I get home. As I explained to the enrollment specialist I don't want to pay for a term that I won't be able to use fully.

Personally, I wouldn't I would just get the classes over with then travel. If you take a break then you have to wait 8+ weeks to go back. Most people don't return once they're on a break that long. There are breaks between the semesters but not the sessions. There are 2 sessions per semester. The longest break is from early December until mid January. You can also sign up for classes and complete them before the session ends and not add more classes.

[StudiousTraveller]

So we are allowed to take breaks between the sessions (terms) then??

I'm not in a rush to get the classes done so it is fine for me to wait until the next session start date to continue on. I'm not worried about not returning after 8 weeks as I took a year off during my BSc and returned refreshed and eager to get back to learning.

If, for example, it takes me two years to complete 3-4 sessions at UMPI that's cool with me...as long as that's allowed at UMPI. I've been fortunate that I've retired early so I can take my time getting my degree but that said, I do have a budget for my learning goals so I don't want to pay needlessly for tuition when I know I'm not going to be available for weeks at a time to work on classes.

[ashkir]

You can do one term then take a break for the term and come back the next term. Your breaks would be 8 weeks not 2-3 weeks like many would hope.

The terms are 8 weeks each you can also do 2 terms, then break for a term, and come back for term two of the next semester, etc.

Right now breaks are:

May 6 - May 9 (one weekend) 
July 1 to July 5 (holiday weekend)
August 26 to Aug 28 (one weekend)

The only time there is a break for YourPace that isn't a weekend is Christmas time. They will stop at December 16th and return January 16th.

[StudiousTraveller]

Thank you @ashkir

I understand that the break will be 8 weeks between sessions and that works for me. Depending on my travel schedule, I may even opt to take 16 weeks between sessions. I'm estimating I will need 3-4 sessions at UMPI but it is ok with me if it takes me the rest of this year and next if need be.

I wish it was easier to know which of my courses from my BSc will transfer because then I could map out a plan to earn the remaining credits. I hope UMPI will be able to help me sooner than later with this.

[ss20ts]

You can take a break however if there are any changes to the degree program you'll have to work with the new changes. You may be surprised how many classes you can get finished in a session.

[freeloader]

I took a couple of “8-week breaks” with UMPI to allow for accommodation of my work and family schedules. Taking a single session off is no problem at all.

If you think you are likely to need to take 2 or more consecutive sessions off, you should probably email Jessica Winslow. At one point I thought I would need to take off 2 consecutive sessions and had emailed her about this. It can be done, but there were some limitations or steps that had to be taken; I really don’t remember what she said and don’t want to speculate.

[ss20ts]

I took a couple of “8-week breaks” with UMPI to allow for accommodation of my work and family schedules.  Taking a single session off is no problem at all.

If you think you are likely to need to take 2 or more consecutive sessions off, you should probably email Jessica Winslow. At one point I thought I would need to take off 2 consecutive sessions and had emailed her about this.  It can be done, but there were some limitations or steps that had to be taken; I really don’t remember what she said and don’t want to speculate.

Probably after a certain number of sessions away you're no longer considered a student. Might need to reapply. Or something along those lines.

[StudiousTraveller]

I wasn't confident with the enrollment specialist's answer to this question so I did ask the UMPI person I spoke to and she said it's no problem to take breaks. I believe she also said that the summer sessions don't count towards the number of sessions you're taking during your break so you could conceivably take a few sessions off in a row.

The most important point she made though was to keep your academic advisor in the loop if you want to take a break and they'll confirm how long you could be away before you'd have to reapply.

For me, I asked if I could do a session and then take a session off, then come back and do another and then possibly take another session off and she said that wouldn't be an issue.

[ss20ts]

The enrollment counselors aren't very knowledgable. They're a hired third party company and not UMPI employees unfortunately. You definitely need to keep your academic advisor aware of any changes you're making. Taking classes in 1 session of a semester hasn't been an issue. For those with financial aid, 4 classes in a session makes you full time for the semester. I did that twice.