Two years ago the administration tried to push a radical change to the GW experience – a four-by-four curriculum (four classes a semester worth four credits each) coupled with a mandatory summer session for rising juniors. Neither idea was unique, as examples of each could be found at other schools, but together presented quite a shift for GW.

Like many large organizations, GW is reluctant to embrace major institutional changes, and the proposals failed partially because of massive outcry from students and faculty who opposed the proposal. At the time, much of the backlash was against the mandatory summer session and little attention was paid to the four-by-four idea.

Fast forward two years and the administration is again looking to implement four-by-four, this time with much less fanfare from either the student body or the faculty. During the first go-around, the Student Association served as the main vehicle for student opposition to the plan, but that may not be the case this year with an SA mired in other issues of little importance.

At this point, four-by-four is still in an exploratory committee which will make a final non-binding recommendation in early March. I, along with the Hatchet editorial board, support the concept of four-by-four if it is implemented in such a way as to adapt effectively to GW’s unique culture and location.

I reintroduced the issue in a short column today – 4×4: Altering the GW culture. I hope to continue exploring the intracacies of this issue as it develops in the next couple of months.