The upcoming transition to semesters has brought up a lot of myths and questions which remain unanswered.
The most common myth is that semesters are required by the state. They aren’t.
In 2008 the Chancellor for the Board of Regents “encouraged” semesters, but it was the universities that decided, in a pact with one another, to switch.
In regards to preferences, some dislike the speed and focus of quarters, whereas others dislike the slow pace and greater multitasking of semesters, where a student has two or three extra classes per week to worry about.
Studies have shown they are equivalent to each other educationally, and neither one is worth switching to. For those who prefer semesters, you are invited to attend or work at a semester institution. After all, you hardly lack in choice.
The reasons offered for switching today include “improving the long term efficiency of the system and allowing for the easier transfer of credits between institutions.”
Amusingly, that is exactly what the Ohio Board of Regents said in 1966 when they ordered all state institutions to be on quarters. In fact, it also said that quarters make it easier for students to graduate in three years, an idea that is in vogue today too.
But in 1974, the regents changed their minds and removed the requirement; the benefits for being on the same schedule didn’t pan out.
We don’t know whether it’s easier to transfer credits between institutions on the same schedule. Neither the regents nor the universities have data on credit-transfer issues, nor do they have data on how transfers would improve under the same calendar.
However, previous studies, such as one from Ohio University in 1997, rejected credit-transfer problems as a reason for switching to the same system.
Do people miss out on jobs or internships because of the late end of the quarter?
Undoubtedly they do, but there’s no data showing how much and whether that problem justifies moving to semesters. Indeed, solving that issue conflicts with the desire to graduate people in three years.
Besides, as time goes on, academic calendars are becoming less important. Classes are slowly going online, and studying on a structured schedule is no longer required. It would be ironic to invest great resources to switch as calendars become irrelevant.
How much are the costs? With an average of $10 million per university and an unknown quantity for the 13 community colleges, a quick sum would be $60 million to $70 million, but $100 million is possible.
These calculations don’t include certain costs such as potential students’ avoiding transitioning schools — which OU reported could cost as much as $20 million.
Other indirect costs are left out, such as students needing to take a heavier load to graduate sooner — which impacts both grades and the ability to work.
And why would this costly transition be done now, during the worst economic crisis in this state since the Great Depression?
A responsible third party examination of all these issues is needed. Fortunately the state auditor of Ohio offers a program called “performance auditing.”
A performance audit would answer the questions above, increase accountability and find ways of making the transition easier and cheaper.
For that reason, I submitted to the state auditor the case for starting a performance audit of the statewide transition to semesters.
You can read that case (and my sources) at tiny.cc/quarters.
I’ve asked that the student governments of the affected universities pass a resolution in support of a performance audit.
Now I ask that you go to Facebook, search for and like “Quarters to semesters: Like to find out the real cost.”
Share it to show everyone the urgent need for this audit.
James Moyer is an alumnus of Ohio State University.
