Task Force Seeks Faculty, Staff and Student Input

Within the next few years, the University of Cincinnati is likely to convert from a quarter-based academic calendar to a semester-based one. (Brief background on reasons for considering conversion.)

A university faculty/staff/student task force is currently at work to outline a plan to take UC from the quarter system to the semester system. The task force and subcommittees are comprised of faculty, students and staff members totaling about 90 in number carefully planning and researching all issues. Preliminary outcomes and proposals from this planning process will be made available as progress continues, including a proposed academic calendar and a pledge to students regarding academic credits, tuition and other issues.

Due date for completion of the initial plan (which will follow specified boundaries) is the end of spring quarter 2008. IF, later, the UC Board of Trustees approves a quarter-to-semester conversion, planning will continue and follow-up preparations will require two years or more. The earliest UC would convert to academic semesters would likely be autumn 2011.

The role of the UC Semester Task Force includes

• Recommending a timeline for transition.

• Defining a specific academic semester calendar.

• Considering the needs of UC’s co-op, student teaching and clinical cycles.

• Examining academic policy implications in a comprehensive manner, including viewing the transition as a unique opportunity to examine and modify the university’s curricula and pedagogy as necessary.

• Considering changes needed to UC’s IT systems.

• Creating a policy focusing on the needs of UC’s student population during the transition process.

• Considering cost and budget constraints.

A number of subcommittees have begun work. Any student, faculty or staff member is invited to contact the following subcommittees members with ideas, questions or concerns.

Overall chairs of UC’s Semester Task Force are

Kettil Cedercreutz, Associate Provost and Director of Professional Practice
513-556-4636; kettil.cedercreutz@uc.edu

Elizabeth King, Dean, College of Allied Health Sciences
513-558-8547; elizabeth.king@uc.edu

Committees are

Advising Subcommittee
Chair: Caroline Miller, Associate Vice President, Enrollment Management
513-556-3379; caroline.miller@uc.edu

 Co-chair: Tara Stopfel, Assistant Dean, McMicken College of Arts & Sciences
 513-556-6537; tara.stopfel@uc.edu

This subcommittee will outline a plan to assure that all students receive effective academic advising before and during the transition while also assuring that students shoulder no increased costs nor increased time to graduation due to the transition. The subcommittee will also examine issues related to student transfers between UC and other institutions.

Calendar Subcommittee
Chair: Douglas K. Burgess, University Registrar
513-556-9930; Douglas.burgess@uc.edu

 Co-chair: Warren George, Dean, College-Conservatory of Music
 513-556-3737; warren.george@uc.edu

This subcommittee will outline a framework for a semester schedule that includes number of days in session, exam days, application deadlines, registration deadlines, financial-aid deadlines and fee deadlines as well as a suggested schedule for experiential learning, including cooperative education, mandatory internships, practicums and clinicals.

Communications Subcommittee
Chair: M.B. Reilly, PIO, University Relations
513-556-1824; mary-bridget.reilly@uc.edu

Co-chair: Elizabeth King, Dean, College of Allied Health Sciences
513-558-8547; elizabeth.king@uc.edu

This subcommittee will coordinate communication efforts regarding planning and progress by the overall task force.

Infrastructure Subcommittee
Chair: Bob Zierolf, Associate University Dean, The Graduate School
513-556-4331; robert.zierolf@uc.edu
 
Co-chair: Jeff Tilman, Associate Professor, Architecture, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
513-556-0239; jeff.tilman@uc.edu

This subcommittee will outline conversion guidelines related to all support functions that are not primarily college advising or information-systems related. These processes include such areas as athletics, campus security, career services, facilities management, finance, housing, student services and many more. 

Information Systems Subcommittee
Chair: Pat Krekeler, Director, UCit-Core Application Systems
513-556-9089; patricia.krekeler@uc.edu

Co-chair: Neal Stark, Director of Research and Assessment, Institutional Research
513-556-0366; neal.stark@uc.edu

The subcommittee will identify the university systems impacted by a conversion to a semester-based calendar, estimate the level of effort to modify the systems and data, and develop an overall systems implementation plan.

Pedagogy, Curricula and Course Subcommittee
Chair: Bill Whitaker, Senior Associate Dean, College of Business
513-556-7117; bill.whitaker@uc.edu

Co-chair: Gigi Escoe, Vice Provost, Assessment and Learning
513-556-9193; gisela.escoe@uc.edu

Co-chair: Mary Stearns, Assistant Dean, Clermont College
513-732-5278; mary.stearns@uc.edu

This subcommittee will outline general procedures for the conversion of curricula, including development of a protocol for uniform course numbering and guidelines for transfer of credits. The policies outlined will be particularly sensitive to the needs of pedagogical collaborations between units within the university.

Policies and Procedures Subcommittee
Chair: Janice Denton, Professor of Chemistry, Raymond Walters College
513-745-5795; janice.denton@uc.edu

This subcommittee will review and make recommendations regarding policies affecting student progress guidelines, student probation and dismissal, requirements for repeating courses and grade replacement, and more.