Amid Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students and faculty debates over the pros and cons of switching to a semester system, a recent report recommends leaving the quarter calendar in place to save money. [Tribune]
The Semester Review Task Force — created by Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong — surveyed students, faculty and staff and studied the pros and cons of switching to a semester system. The group’s final report recommends leaving the calendar alone at this time.
Armstrong’s task force estimated the cost of converting to a semester system ranges from $18.1 million to $21.2 million which includes costs to transform curriculum and convert software systems and technology.
The California State University system has been looking to establish semesters as the common calendar for all 22 CSU campuses in order to create uniformity. If a semester system becomes the norm, the CSU system could offer online classes to all campuses instead of only those schools on the semester calendar. Currently, six campuses operate on the quarter system.
The semester schedule runs about two terms a year, with usually 15 to 17 weeks and time for exams, while the quarter system is usually 10 to 12 weeks.
