University may switch to semesters
Stories by GABRIEL BOEHMER
Of the Emerald
The University is considering
a switch to a semester
academic calendar in the fall of
1983.
University Pres. Paul Olum
has given the recommendations I
of the ad hoc committee on
semester conversion his stamp
of approval and the proposal
now goes before the faculty as
sembly for consideration in
June.
University faculty and
students will have a chance to
voice an opinion on the semes
ter plan at a public hearing slat
ed for Wednesday, May 18, from
1 to 2:30 p.m.
A representative from the
president’s office explained the
recommendation to the Student
University Affairs Board Wed
nesday. A SUAB member said
the board will complete an
opinion survey of University
department heads before the
end of spring term.
The proposal also is being
circulated among state system
of higher education administra
tors, Olum says.
Olum favors the semester
system because he believes it is
an academically sounder meth
od.
“We would favor a shift to a
semester system,’’ said Eric
Sankey, Mount Hood Commun
ity College Associate Dean of
College Relations.
Unlike Olum, Sankey said the
primary reason would be the
financial savings of only going
through the registration
process two times a year in
stead of three.
“Not long after state universi
ties and colleges switch to the
semester system, community
colleges would follow,” Sankey
adds.
Transfer students from
quarter-system schools should
not stop the University from
adopting the plan, Sankey says.
"The only problem is students
who don't plan ahead to transfer
to four-year institutions," San
key says.
Portland State University ad
ministration representative
Olum approves recommendation
I
Mark Howard said results of a
public opinion poll at PSU this
fall showed students were over
whelmingly in favor of the pre
sent quarter system.
"If a similar poll was taken
among the faculty today,”
Howard said, “I would expect
similar results."
Howard said the semester
calendar wouldn’t work well at
PSU due to the nature of the
student body. PSU serves many
part-time and community
education students who don’t
start school directly after Labor
Day.
“The characteristics of the
.. ..—I
Graphic by Sioux Anderson
student population here are dif
ferent, and I perceive their
needs as different,” Howard
says.
If the University converted to
a semester calendar, Howard
doesn’t think other state col
leges and universities would
necessarily follow.
I UUI I t uiiiirv u iV/Mrf i w UI I y
overwhelming urge by faculty or
students to move that direc
tion,” he says.
University admissions direc
tor Jim Buch does not think
converting to the semester
calendar would create any
major problems for students
transferring from community
colleges.
”Transfer problems would not
be related to the switch.”
Transfer students’ main con
cern should be meeting course
requirements at their college or
university, and not what calen
dar t e school operates on, Buch
believes.
"A switch to the semester
system in the long run would not
lead to a decrease in enroll
ment,” Buch says.
Initially the change would
mean more work for the admis
sions office, Buch says.
‘‘We would be old dogs
learning a new trick.
“An advantage is that once
again the University of Oregon
would be showing leadership in
the state. We would be in the
forefront of change.”
Buch disputes Howard’s
claim that PSU students are
better suited to the quarter sys
tem.
“A larger percentage of city
colleges are on the semester
system,” Buch says. “You have
to hustle to find people on
quarters.”
Comments from community
college administrators con
cerning potential transfer prob
lems will carry the most weight,
Olum says.
More than 50 percent of col
leges arid universities nationally
in 1979-80 used the early
semester calendar, according
to the University committee
report.
The University law school
moved from the quarter system
to the early-semester system in
fall of 1973.
‘‘Every study has shown
students have liked it better
after the switch," says semester
conversion committee chairer
Maradel Gale — art and archi
tecture associate dean.
Proposed calendar creates two 16-week terms
If the early-semester calendar is approved by the
University assembly and the State Board of Higher
Education, the academic year would be composed
of two 16-week semesters, each including one week
of final examinations.
The calendar provides for an academic year of
at least 160 days of classes to meet State Board of
Higher Education requirements
Summer session would continue to be an in
depedent session, instead of a full third semester. An
early summer session would begin shortly after
spring semester ends. Another session would begin
later in the term for students not on the early
semester system.
The committee’s proposal intends time between
fall and spring semester to be used a vacation for
students and preparation time for faculty. No formal
interim session between fall and spring semesters is
included in the committee's recommendation.
Proposed Early Semester Calendar for 1983-4
Registration Aug. 29-30
Fail classes begin Aug. 31
Thanksgiving vacation Nov. 23-5
Fall semester finals week Dec. 14-20
Winter vacation Dec. 21-Jan. 15
Spring semester registration Jan. 16
Spring classes begin Jan. 17
Spring vacation March 10-18
Spring semester finals May 4-11
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