It’s a huge undertaking, but something that must be at the direction of the University System of Ohio: converting from quarters to semesters. In addition to UC, several other colleges are also facing this challenge, including Ohio University, Ohio State University, Wright State University and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. There’s more to the switch than simply tacking on a few additional weeks to each academic term: the University is viewing this change as a chance to “realize collaborative partnerships across the colleges that would be far more difficult to coordinate and achieve if not for the galvanizing imperative inherent in the initiative.”
Indeed, our conversion from quarters to semesters truly means a transformation of teaching and learning at UC. In her State of the University Address in October 2008, President Nancy Zimpher referenced this period as a “transformative re-thinking of our pedagogy, a modernizing of the curriculum, and a systematic streamlining of degree requirements.”
Many committees are needed in order to facilitate this transformation-and the committees and subcommittees envisioned in this draft will need to gather perspectives and information from a wide range of faculty. Over the next few months, every academic department within Raymond Walters College and the university as a whole will be asking: what does semester conversion mean for your courses, your programs, your discipline?
A university-wide steering committee has been formed to oversee and coordinate all aspects of the conversion, including adherence to timelines; timely and frequent updates to relevant internal and external governance groups and stakeholders; liaison with the Provost’s office; and working with the Budget and Enrollment Planning Committee on integration of the conversion.
In addition, several sub-committees have been created to address specific areas, such as curriculum design and course revision; academic advising; policies and procedures; information systems; communications; faculty issues; and infrastructure.
The Provost has drafted a charge for the steering committee and sub-groups and has appointed UC faculty and staff to serve on these committees; student representatives will soon be identified. Once the membership is finalized, the groups will begin their work, and an overall timeline will be set.
Rest assured that more information will be forthcoming as we together face this monumental change.