A resolution to switch Ohio University's academic calendar would be a familiar change for many of its high-ranking faculty members, but a local union president does not see the advantages.
President Roderick McDavis will propose that OU switch its academic calendar from quarters to semesters at the Board of Trustees Academics Committee meeting today. The transition, if approved, would not be completed until 2011.
Ohio University is one of four schools in Ohio that does not operate on the semester system. The Ohio Board of Regents has urged the public schools in its network, the University System of Ohio, to strongly consider a switch to the more common semester system.
Many of OU's deans are in favor of the potential change.
We've talked about a switch for a long time
said Ben Ogles, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The deans were unanimously in support of it.
Every single institution I've worked with before this one was on semesters said Ann Fidler, dean of the Honors Tutorial College. Fidler, who will serve as Vice-Provost next academic year, said she would be taking an active part in the transition between quarters and semesters.
The deans also said that the transfer to semesters would not make a significant difference in terms of workloads for themselves or the students in their colleges.
The load is more balanced on semesters because we spend less time preparing for new classes and sections said Dennis Irwin, dean of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology. Our workload will be a little less because we have significant startup and shutdown issues at the beginning and end of each quarter.
Medical schools have their own schedules
said Jack Brose, dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine. You wouldn't notice too much of a difference.
Dave Logan ' president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 1699 ' voiced his opposition to the switch. The union represents OU's maintenance and custodial staff.
If the university is short on money like it says it is
I don't see why we're even looking at this [proposal]
Logan said. I don't see what the advantages are.
Though he has not surveyed the union yet, Logan pointed to several potential problems.
There is a misconception that we have a vacation during breaks, but in reality that's our busiest time. Christmas break is a chance to make repairs, particularly to the heating system. Same goes for summer break.
Most of the finer details of a switch have not been figured out
said Christine Sheets
vice president for Auxiliary Services. Sheets could not say how the switch would affect hirings and firings of staff.
We haven't evaluated it yet, she said. It's very early for us. So many things are going on that need to be taken care of right now.
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25315,2008-06-26 00:00:00,Board of Trustees to review balanced budget,",Ohio University will go ahead with a promised 3 percent faculty pay raise and won't have to cut jobs to do it ' for now
at least.
Although investment returns were $1.3 million less than expected
OU officials will deliver a balanced 2009 budget to the Board of Trustees Resources Committee today that includes $1.2 million in pay raises and $2.3 million in support of Vision Ohio investments.-
meeting officials proposed delaying the salary increase for 2009 in case of further economic deterioration. Rebuffing that plan
