Quarters spared from change

Kristie Hsin

Senior Reporter

EWU will not be switching to a semester-based system anytime soon.

Due to lack of funding and budget instability, the university has opted to wait before moving forward with final decisions. However, President Arévalo has recommended the switch.

“I am recommending that Eastern Washington University move to a semester format as soon as the financial environment stabilizes and additional resources are provided to the university,” Arévalo said in the report in November 2010.

Research and proposals were brought to the university’s attention back in February 2009 by then Provost John Mason and Interim Dean of the College of Business and Public Administration Niel Zimmerman.

The two provided a report that indicated benefits derived from changing to a semester-based system to the academic affairs committee. As a result, President Arévalo asked the Quarters to Semester Conversion Research Committee to research and identify the pros and cons of the change.

The Quarters to Semesters Committee was established in February 2010 after recommendations for a conversion were made. A formal presentation was made to the board of trustees in November 2010, shortly after all the committee’s work was complied.

Now that the committee’s work is over, they no longer meet.

“I think switching to semesters may be good,” said junior Daniel Kim. “It will give students more time to actually learn the material and actually catch up.”

Now, as the university waits for financial stability, a Quarters to Semesters Cost Committee has been formed to study the costs and savings if EWU does make the switch.

The committee estimates a total cost of $1.8 – $2 million for the conversion to semesters.

The Cost Committee is charged with the assessment of institutional cost related to the possible change of the university calendar from quarters to semesters. The vice president of business and finance, the provost, the athletic director and faculty members are among those in the committee.

The Cost Committee won’t have any formal findings for public release until May or June, according to Director of Media Relations Dave Meany.

“I think we’re fine the way we are now,” said sophomore Marissa Gonzalla. “I like quarters. It allows for more variety.”

Duties of the task force includes evaluating all pros and cons of the conversion, dollar costs estimates, a detailed timeline of transition, and identifying academic policy issues (size and courses of a program, etc).

Conversion timeline

The matter of switching to a semester-based system has long been discussed and researched for years, as illustrated in the report. According to Meany, when Eastern will implement a semester-based system, no one knows.

For the duration between now and when EWU will be semester-based, it is recommended by the president that a detailed plan that includes cost estimates for implementation be researched.

With the exception of Washington State University, all public universities and community colleges in Washington state are on quarter-based systems.

Positive qualities of a semester-based system

The first major argument of conversion is that semesters provide longer time frames in which students are engaged with a topic, allowing for greater and more in-depth understanding and learning opportunities.

By implementing the change to semesters, Eastern’s academic calendar will align with the majority of other colleges and universities. The semester-based system allows for more opportunities to take GECR courses and courses pertaining to a student’s major.

This system also allows for longer time frames for in-depth teaching, projects, and enables students to more easily get caught up on their school work. Other arguments in support of semesters include fewer financial aid award adjustments, potential for cost savings, and better utilization of textbooks that are typically designed for semesters.

Positive qualities of a quarter-based system

The second major argument is that quarters provide more opportunities for students to take courses with a higher concentration and greater focus on fewer courses.

Arguments made in support of staying with the quarter-based system range from having larger sets of course options for students, a lighter course load, more opportunities for students to repeat a course, and a lower cost of failure for students financially.

Having a quarter-based system also allows for August vacation schedule, an easier transfer from quarter schools, and conversion costs.

“Until the budget situation stabilizes, there’s not really going to be anything that’s going to be happening with this,” Meany said