Semesters instead of quarters a possibility
Nathaniel Kelly
The Broadside
Students at Central Oregon Community College as well as Oregon State University-Cascades Campus may find themselves taking classes on a semester schedule rather than a quarterly one.
Oregon University System officials are taking a close look at moving the entire Oregon higher education system from a quarterly schedule to a semester schedule. The change would have positive aspects including reducing administrative work and making transferring to other colleges easier. OUS is looking at making the change because most colleges nationwide use a semester system.
However, the process of converting is long and arduous according to COCC administrators.
“It would take significant [effort] to make such a major shift,” said Vickory Viles, secretary at the CAP Center.
Michael Holtzclaw, the head chair of the social science department, believes that students will engage more meaningfully in projects and not feel rushed.He thinks the advantages of a semester schedule outweigh any disadvantages.
“Only about 20 percent of higher education institutions nationwide are on a quarter system,” said Kathy Walsh, an instructional dean at COCC.
When transferring from a quarter to a semester system, Walsh said that students lose some of the credits they’ve already taken. Courses taken at a quarter school do not count for full credits at a semester school. This can result in students taking longer to graduate after transferring.
In order to convert, colleges would make changes to curricula, schedules,holidays and record systems.
“The process of preparing changes to curricula, schedules, and record systems must be thought of as a multi-year process,” said Kathy Walsh. This means that faculty members, administrative personnel, and students can expect a five-year plan to convert to a semester system.
“I personally preferred the semester system because I had a longer time to become familiar with my students, their work, and their learning styles,” said Walsh.
Elizabeth Coleman, a mathematics teacher at COCC dislikes the semester system idea because it is just too long.
Right now, OUS officials are receiving feedback on what students and faculty members think about converting to a semester system. A poll is underway on the OUS website at ous.edu.
You may contact Nathaniel Kelly at nathanielsea@gmail.com
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