While Athens store owners do not believe Ohio University's switch to a semester system in 2012 will affect profits, a cochairman for the school's transition committee said local sales could improve.
Students are currently in class for three 10-week quarters, but on the semester system, students will be in class for two 15-week periods.
Theoretically they will be here for a longer period of time and conceivably consuming more goods
said David Descutner, associate provost for undergraduate education and dean of University College. Descutner is cochairman of the committee working on the switch.
In both systems, students are in class for 30 weeks and it is difficult to say how the semester system will affect business, said Michael Fitterer, store manager for College Bookstore, 50 S. Court St.
They may be here in December but they will be gone in June he said. We aren't really sure what is going to happen.Professors, not students, represent the majority of the clientele at Casa Nueva, 4 W. State St., but even then the semester switch might not change business, said employee and owner Sheri Harvey.
It would only help for sure
but I am not sure we are fully affected
Harvey said. -
Hayes said. When we have students leave it's a dead time here in Athens; it is really hard on the retailers.
One model for the semester switch has students in Athens until the middle of December without a break for Thanksgiving, Descutner said.
When the switch to semesters was discussed 20 years ago, the business community was supportive because classes are extended into the holiday shopping season, but merchants have become ambivalent because small department stores in town have been replaced with restaurants and bars, said Richard Vedder, distinguished professor of economics and head of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity. -
he said. I don't think it could have a negative effect.
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