Ohio University's transition from the academic quarters to semesters could make it easier for students to land internships and jobs following graduation.
Currently, OU students have a distinct disadvantage in obtaining internships, particularly over the summer, because of the quarter system, said Becky Watts, chief of staff to President Roderick McDavis.
The switch to semesters will help students seeking internships because school gets out earlier and many programs are scheduled based on semester systems, Watts said.
There is a huge benefit in terms of internships and job placement for our graduates
Watts said, adding that many students have to leave campus prior to the end of the quarter in order to start an internship.
Quarters-to-semesters transition team Co-Chairman Tom Carpenter said that under the semester system students would be out of school in early May.
The main argument is that our students will be getting out when everyone else is said Carpenter, adding that individual departments will adjust their current internship programs to fit with the new calendar.
However, the switch to semesters will force some schools to completely restructure existing internship programs.
According to Connie Esmond-Kiger, director of the School of Accounting, her students currently use Winter Quarter to intern during the industry's busy season an opportunity that will be unavailable under the semester system.
It's going to be hard and kind of complicated
said Kiger, who added that while it is not required, about half of OU's accounting students participate in an internship.
Kiger added that many of the firms OU students have worked with in the past have expressed concern about the switch.
We're going to try to be very flexible and design a program that works for both the students and the participating firms
Kiger said.
Journalism students might have an easier time getting internships, according to Tina Stewart, internship coordinator for the Scripps College of Communication.
It is vital for our students to get the experience; sometimes it is the only way you can get in the door at many of these companies
Stewart said.
Two of the schools within the college - the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and the College of Visual Communication - require an internship for graduation credit.
Stewart said that the 15-week semester provides a better opportunity for students to gain practical experience while interning, or to have two internships during a single semester.
Being on the semester system might also be easier for students attempting to study abroad, because most programs use a semester calendar, said Stewart.
Getting on the same page as the rest of the country will aid everyone: students
OU and internship providers
said Jill Ingram, internship coordinator for the English department and an assistant professor. She added that the switch would be most helpful to students seeking internships over the summer.
(The quarter system) hurts in the summer because our students take courses so late into the year
which usually means the spots have been taken by the time they get out
Ingram said.
The additional time will allow students to receive proper on-the-job training, Ingram said. She added that the job-seeking graduates might benefit even more from the system.
Employers aren't looking to hire in mid-June. Under the semester calendar there is a benefit to the students
the university as a whole and to the internship programs
