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Schools face 'complex' challenges in switching to semester schedule

Jim Vance, a Wright State University associate professor of mathematics, works with students Thursday Jan. 28. Vance is spokesman for the Wright State faculty union which is urging faculty members to resist the state-mandated conversion to semesters because of concerns about an increase in faculty workload. Staff photo by Lisa Powell

Lisa Powell/Staff photographer Jim Vance, a Wright State University associate professor of mathematics, works with students Thursday Jan. 28. Vance is spokesman for the Wright State faculty union which is urging faculty members to resist the state-mandated conversion to semesters because of concerns about an increase in faculty workload. Staff photo by Lisa Powell

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WSU faculty resists switch to state-mandated semesters

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By Dave Larsen, Staff Writer 11:11 PM Thursday, January 28, 2010

FAIRBORN — Converting from quarters to semesters is an “immensely complex” process for state universities currently making the switch, said Bill Rickert, Wright State University associate provost.

The process involves redesigning every program and class in the curriculum and determining how classes will be delivered.

Wright State’s faculty union on Tuesday, Jan. 26, issued an e-mail urging all full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty to stop working on matters concerning semester conversion because of concerns about faculty workload.

“We need to know the essentials of our teaching load before determining the curriculum,” the e-mail said.

Curriculum is determined through the WSU faculty senate, and work levels are negotiated with the American Association of University Professors union.

A December proposal by the university would have faculty teaching more classes per term under a semester system, according to union officials.

At several Wright State colleges, the current teaching load of 24 quarter hours per year equals 16 semester hours, according to university figures. The proposed “standard” teaching expectation would be less than or equal to 18 semester hours.

Figures on teaching loads at other four-year public universities in Ohio were not available Thursday.

“The leadership of the union and the faculty as a whole have no interest in standing in the way of semester conversion,” said Jim Vance, AAUP-WSU spokesman and associate professor of mathematics. “We do, however, have an interest in the quality of this university, which will go down if the number of courses taught by faculty goes up.”

A typical quarter is 10 weeks of instruction, followed by a week for final exams. A semester is 15 weeks of instruction and a week for exams. An academic year generally consists of three quarters or two semesters, totaling 30 weeks of instruction.

WSU, Ohio University, the University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University have adopted resolutions to change to semesters starting in fall 2012.

Regional two-year schools expected to switch from quarters to semesters include Sinclair, Clark State and Columbus State Community Colleges.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or dlarsen@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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