One complaint I hear not infrequently about Collo concerns the distribution requirement for hours. I think this is a legitimate complaint. The idea behind the requirements is to nudge you into doing a variety of things and to keep you doing something throughout the semester. I still think those are worthy goals. Overall, though, the goal of Collo is to get you to be "consciously honors," and that can be accomplished in ways other than following the prescribed distribution of hours.
So in an effort to increase flexibility, I plan to offer a contract grading option next semester (for non-freshmen). If you choose this option, you will draft a proposal for what you plan to do during the semester to earn credit for Collo. Your plan need not follow the guidelines in the syllabus, though it should accomplish the same broad goals. This might be an opportunity to engage in a more sustained project throughout the semester or to front/backload your hours if you know your schedule will be hectic at a particular time. If I accept your proposal, then you will be graded based on it and the standards you set for yourself.
More details to come, but that's the general idea.
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