I've been watching the boards to see if any discussion pops up. I haven't seen any so I decided to make the thread myself. I personally don't like the idea. I like starting later in the summer.

 

Articles from the Newsrecord and the Enquirer

 

 

UC may toss quarter system

BY LORI KURTZMAN | [email protected]

It’s an idea that’s been floating around the University of Cincinnati for years: Switching the academic calendar from quarters to semesters. Making terms last 16 weeks instead of 10. Following a national trend.

 

For more information, please click the link.

FOR MORE INFO, VIST: www.enquirer.com

 

UC could move to semesters by 2010

Dean: Biggest challenge fitting co-op into new format

Jim Ramey

Posted: 1/29/07

The University of Cincinnati may make the switch from a quarter system to a semester system by the end of this decade, potentially forcing the university to redesign all courses.

 

For more information, please click the link.

FOR MORE INFO, VISIT: www.newsrecord.org

 

Transferring out of UC was definitely costly for me from a credit-transfer point of view...two quarters of honors English satisfied the requirement for one year of freshman English - but to CWRU, it looked like a touch over half a semester, and I ended up having to take an entire year of freshman English over again...and a lot of one quarter electives didn't count at all, if I remember correctly...

 

Even within UC, two colleges – law and medicine – operate on semesters

 

yeah, being on a different schedule from the rest of the university isn't confusing at all.

As somebody who has done both (college at Shawnee State on quarters, grad school at Marshall on semesters, then more grad school at UC) semesters ARE better. It's worth all the BS associated with the switch.

I really like the way that the quarter system operates...especially in regards to coop!  I would have to think that it would make coop a much more difficult system to operate/oversee if it were on the semester system.  But then again, I don't know the inner workings of the system, but its been good to me thus far!

Ohio State is still grappling with switching over to semesters from quarters.

Otherwise, with semesters you (supposedly) have more time to go through your course work, where as in quarters you either spend less time on each topic or you break it up into more course work (2 quarter classes instead of 1 semester class)

 

At an educational perspective, I don't see much difference between semesters and quarters.

(though more schools are using semesters and academic conferences are being set, more and more, to semester schedules.)

I absolutely prefer quarters over semesters and I've done both.  As Rando said, it works really well w/ co-op as well.  Moving back and forth from city to city every three months was somewhat crazy, but enjoyable nonetheless.  Either way, I've only got 2 quarters remaining after this one, so it wouldn't affect me.

I think that an internship/co-op would be much easier to do on semesters. Plus, since most other states are on semesters, Ohioans on quarters can get locked out of national internships and co-ops because they are stuck in class for a month after everyone else is done for the summer. That would have happened to me for my DC internship if I wasn't on semesters at Marshall. And, summer jobs are also gobbled up by those on semesters (even in Ohio, because of private schools) before quarters people even get a shot at them. Many other states don't even know quarters exist.

 

Another bullshit thing with quarters is the lack of a "Dead Week". For those not familiar with the concept, a Dead Week means that professors cannot assign homework or hold tests in the week before finals week. Therefore, students can focus on the final. I have already had my performance negatively affected by lack of a Dead Week after only one quarter at UC. I had to compromise both an assignment and finals study because there was a large, difficult assignment due during finals week.

So it seems...that everyone else should just switch over to the quarter system then. :-D

Yes, if they want students to learn less and be more frustrated. :-P

yea i dont really understand why they want to switch.  there really is no difference.  If youre on a quarter system, you take 3-4 classes each quarter and in each class, for 10-12 classes each school year.  On semesters, you take 5-6 classes each semester I believe, for 11-12 classes each school year.  In the 10 week quarter, you theoretically cover the exact same material in one class as you would in the same class in a 15 week semester, you just go at a faster pace in the quarter system.  I have never done semesters and never will it looks like, but it seems quarters are faster pace with less classes at a time while semesters are slower pace with more classes at a time.  Quarters do have one more week of class though, if you include each finals week, thats 33 weeks of class while semesters only have 2 finals weeks so thats 32 weeks.  Damn you semester ppl!

I'm so glad that I didn't go to school on a quarter system.  We started usually after Labor Day and finished up the Winter Term the end of April.  I had all of May, June, July and most of August for work and fun.

I'm so glad that I didn't go to school on a quarter system.  We started usually after Labor Day and finished up the Winter Term the end of April.  I had all of May, June, July and most of August for work and fun.

 

I hear you on that one.

 

I don't know if I could take the stress of three final exam weeks!

As somebody who has done both (college at Shawnee State on quarters

 

That's kinda funny, I'm from Portsmouth.  But on the topic I prefer quarters, even though I have never experienced semesters.  When I come back to school after co-oping I'm ready for the shit to end after about 2 weeks.

I'm so glad that I didn't go to school on a quarter system.  We started usually after Labor Day and finished up the Winter Term the end of April.  I had all of May, June, July and most of August for work and fun.

 

Which school did you go to?

OSU, with quarters started in mid-September, but ended in early June

LSU, with semesters started in Late August, but will end in mid May

I'm so glad that I didn't go to school on a quarter system.  We started usually after Labor Day and finished up the Winter Term the end of April.  I had all of May, June, July and most of August for work and fun.

 

Which school did you go to?

OSU, with quarters started in mid-September, but ended in early June

LSU, with semesters started in Late August, but will end in mid May

Eastern Michigan.  I know U of M and Wayne State are similar.

 

When my brother went to OSU, they started mid Sept, and I think got out around June 20-23 timeframe.

It doesn't seem like theres many advantages to switching.

at osu, we get out early june, im graduating on june 10th this year i believe.  last day of classes ends the 1st of June. 

Plus, since most other states are on semesters, Ohioans on quarters can get locked out of national internships and co-ops because they are stuck in class for a month after everyone else is done for the summer.

 

This often works to our advantage too though.  By working fall/spring quarters, you aren't competing against as many people either from your program or nationally.  Many firms still need the help year round.

 

If youre on a quarter system, you take 3-4 classes each quarter and in each class, for 10-12 classes each school year.

 

That may be the case for grad school, but I generally take 5-6 classes per quarter.

 

When I come back to school after co-oping I'm ready for the shit to end after about 2 weeks.

 

Amen.  Perhaps that's due to the previous statement, but I cannot express how relieved I'll be when it's finally over.

 

I think it is important to consider the costs savings of operating in a semester system.  You have one less term each year that requires billing, scheduling, planning, ect.  Sure the initial switch over would have costs associated with it, but in the long run it could benefit students with more competitive tutition costs.

Personally I don't like the idea of semesters, however, luckily for me I graduate in 2008, and from my experiences with the University I doubt they'll have semesters up and running anytime soon in the non-Law, non-Medicine campus.

 

This argument seems two sided, and I tend to believe that this is a very partisan issue between those who co-op and those who don't. From the "I coop" front, there should be worries about the future of how the coop system operates under a semester. Certainly it would not be nice if every Civil Engineer, Architect, Planner, (INSERT REQUIRED COOP MAJOR HERE). Such a move would make a lot more people be out there on the market looking for coop. So, is UC going to require coop over semesters? Currently co-ops are required to work 6 quarters, is that going to be made to be 3 semesters? That would equate to 11 semesters of undergraduate education, provided students are not required to go to school during the summer (which I am sure there would be some sort of summer school requirement for everyone if semesters were instilled). The truth of the matter is that co-op works really well in the quarter system. It gives employers the opportunity to have a coop during times when school is traditionally in session, and gives the student the opportunity to compete for jobs when most people are not.

 

From the "I don't coop" group, there are internships and opportunities that arise starting in May and end in August, but unfortunately for them they must go to school until June. Even worse, while their friends from [insert School Name Here] who go to school on semesters are finished in May, they must continue in their studies while they are having fun, and to add salt to the wounds their friends must go back to school in August, leaving them without friends to hang out with up until school starts up in September.

 

There are arguments to be made on both sides of the issue. Personally for me, I think the coop/school system works really well for me, the civil engineering student. I also get to enjoy the fact that summer quarter is expoentially more laid back than the other three quarters, and there are very little people on campus during the summer. It's nice to be able to go to Subway and not wait in a huge line. Those are my perspectives though from my experiences, and I am sure that someone in CCM or A&S might have a starkly different perspective. That is to be expected though, as their opinions were shaped by their experiences, not mine. It will be interesting to see what UC does, and I just hope it works for everyone. UC has a great thing going with their Professional Practice Program, and it would be a shame to see it really screwed up by a change to semesters.

"Quater" system? Funny typo for a college-oriented thread...

^ open enrollment!

Another important factor to examine is student's different learning curves. When dealing with difficult material, especially for the first time, some students' learning curves prevent them from "getting" the material in only ten weeks. Give them 15 weeks and they will nail the first 10 weeks' material plus easily learn the extra 5 weeks' stuff. On quarters they get a D, while on semesters they earn an A.

I disagree with that, actually.  Semesters, typically, are more 'lax' for college students, thus they skip class more (particularly in the middle of the semester).  With quarters, there is no room to 'slip' and are generally an intensive learning process.  Thus, those that have a hard time "getting" the material will be "getting" it whether they like it or not. 

That's their own fault for not going to class.

I disagree with that, actually.  Semesters, typically, are more 'lax' for college students, thus they skip class more (particularly in the middle of the semester).  With quarters, there is no room to 'slip' and are generally an intensive learning process.  Thus, those that have a hard time "getting" the material will be "getting" it whether they like it or not. 

 

The middle of the semester is when "breaks" are institutionally planned and implemented (for those schools).

That's their own fault for not going to class.

 

Then it's also their own fault if they can't comprehend material in 10 weeks as well.

Why should it take one person years to learn "Eruption" when someone else learned it in a week, right?

First off, quarter vs. Semester isn't as "radical" as years vs. a week, so that's just silly to compare.  Secondly, any college student can (and should be able to) comprehend 10 weeks of material, as thousands have graduated and have become successful from OSU, UC, WSU, etc.  If anything, 10 weeks being intensive encourages the brain to handle deadlines and etc, much like "real life."

I really don't think it matters; success in college has more to do with how well you manage and allocate your time.