Students can now view a blueprint of Ohio University's semester-based future.
The university released a draft of Ohio University's Quarters-to-Semesters Transition Student and Program last week, hoping students will read it and provide feedback.
(The guidelines) are open for anyone who wants to comment on them
said Linda Lockhart, communication coordinator for the quarters-to-semesters transition. They're primarily an interest to advisers and faculty members but we're looking for input from everyone.
Students have until Feb. 7 to return comments about the draft, while groups such as Student Senate or Faculty Senate have until Feb. 28 for senate-based approval resolutions. Comments can be sent by e-mail to q2s@ohiou.edu, Lockhart added.
According to the draft, no student shall experience a delay to his or her anticipated degree completion or incur increased costs for degree completion as a result of the transition.
The guidelines remain a draft. Although most departments have gone through the approval process for their semester curriculum, some have still not been approved yet. The process is about a quarter behind but is expected to be completed by April, said Jeff Giesey, co-director of the quarters-to-semesters transition and an electrical engineering and computer science professor.
About 70 percent of current class requirements will have a direct equivalent under the semester system, while the other 30 percent will be combined, he added. Some departments might choose to create hybrid programs that offer the best of both worlds for transition students, or students who will be students under both quarters and semesters.
Such a guide was created with transition students in mind, and the Transition Degree Completion Plan, or TDCP, is listed in the back and will be the primary advising document for transition students.
The TDCP will serve as a guide for transition students to finish their programs using both quarter and semester classes. Students will have the chance to plan their curriculum with their advisers and will sign it along with their adviser and the dean of the college.
The document is what a student will need to do to finish Giesey said. It will be like an interim catalog
and it's an official agreement with the university.
Some departments are planning to begin advising fall of 2011, but most will start winter of 2012. Degree Audit Reporting Systems, or DARS, for semester classes will be available Spring Quarter 2012, he added.
It's conditional upon each student
Giesey said. It's important students take responsibility for finishing their programs.
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Leah Fightmaster
