Students hopeful JCU will overturn decision to scrap study week for trimester students

Students are hopeful they can overturn James Cook University's (JCU) controversial decision to scrap study week for trimester students.

The university, which has a large presence in north Queensland, did not consult with trimester students before announcing the removal of study week from their 2027 academic calendar.

Sona Sojan, an international student in her second year of occupational therapy studies at the Townsville JCU campus, said the decision was unpopular.

"When I heard about it, I was really shocked because it was the only week I had to scramble and actually study," she explained.

Ms Sojan began her studies at JCU as a semester student, but said her degree transitioned to a trimester format a year ago.

It meant rather than 26 weeks of study each year, she suddenly had 30 weeks of university content and assessment.

"We were not excited about it — we had a lot of work before," Ms Sojan said.

She said study week — known as Study Without Teaching Vacation (SWOTVAC) — was instrumental in her transition to the trimester format.

Change paused

Since hearing concerns from students and the JCU Student Association, the university has paused the change.

"It's clear that many students have strong feelings about the changes; we are taking the concerns of students seriously," a JCU spokesperson said.

Second-year engineering student Michelle De Faveri said she was hopeful the university would overturn the decision to remove SWOTVAC for trimester students.

"I have not actually met one student who is happy with this change," she said.

"That week is very important for consolidating your learning."

Lectures reduced or removed

While the university hears feedback on SWOTVAC, it has also proposed reducing or removing some face-to-face traditional lectures for future science and engineering students.

"They will be replaced with face-to-face sessions led by lecturers in small groups of students focused on greater interaction and engagement with course material," a JCU spokesperson said.

Ms De Faveri said, like SWOTVAC, traditional in-person lectures were crucial.

"Having to get up and go to the class helps you stay so much more focused," she said.

JCU College of Arts, Society and Education associate professor Simon Foale is a representative of the National Tertiary Education Union.

He said the university's decision to remove study week for trimester students and reduce traditional face-to-face lectures for science and engineering courses in future could affect the student experience.

"You get to a point where students are not getting anything like the contact, the support and input from staff that they expected," he said.