C.O.D. Prepares for Historic Switch from Quarters to Semesters
By Ken Reed
From hiring more academic advisers to designing a unique "one-stop" Orientation/Advising/Registration session, College of DuPage is planning a seamless conversion process for present and future students as the institution prepares to launch a historic switch from quarters to semesters.
C.O.D. is covering the bases to ensure that all students and stakeholders are up to speed on the conversion and know how to prepare for the switch. Current students, those new to C.O.D., and even "transition" students who will enroll in both the quarter and semester systems will have every opportunity to participate in thorough briefings on the process.
Further, many publications and other conversion information have been designed to inform students and all other target audiences — internal and external — about the transition.
"We are dedicated to making sure that all students know that the conversion is coming, and we want to make certain that we help every student move successfully through the process," said Judy Pelletier, C.O.D. coordinator, Advising Services.
The switch in the academic calendar from three 10- to 12-week quarters to two semesters will occur in August 2005. The fall semester will begin in mid-August and end in mid-December, while the spring semester will run from mid-January to mid-May.
Plans are also under way to offer a variety of attractive, shorter-term options to students for the summer term.
In a comprehensive effort to make certain that all students have an opportunity to receive one-on-one briefings, Pelletier said the college has increased its advising staff. "We will encourage students in all the mailings that we send out to come in and meet with an adviser."
Pelletier said that letters have already been sent to current students who have partially completed course sequences, advising them that if their program or degree requires a completed sequence of classes (which most of them do), they should complete the sequence prior to the conversion.
These letters, which will be updated, will be sent to students every quarter through May 2005. The correspondence includes a list of all sequence courses that should be completed prior to fall 2005.
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She said some examples of sequence courses are English 101, 102 and 103; Mathematics 081, 082, 083; Spanish 101, 102, 103; Biology 101, 102, 103; Chemistry 151, 152, 153; and Physics 251, 252, 253. Most three-course sequences will be converted to two-course sequences by recombining content in the semester format.
Pelletier emphasized that if students are not able to complete the sequence of courses on the quarter system, they should not begin the sequence until the conversion to semesters is made in fall 2005 unless their program or transfer school requires a partial sequence. She said the letter will encourage these students to meet with an adviser.
There will be instances, however, when students cannot complete a sequence in the quarter system. Cathy Stablein, professor, English/Journalism and co-chairman of the Semester Credit Hour Conversion Steering Committee for the faculty, said the college has a procedure to handle incomplete sequences.
For example, what happens if a student takes English 101 in the quarter system and is not able to finish the sequence in that system? "In most cases, that student will then take the second course in the sequence in the semester system, which will combine English 102 and 103," said Stablein.
Students will be able to complete the last course in English composition (English 103) during a last-chance option in the fall semester only. Students in some health program cohorts will take special bridge courses in order to complete required sequences for their associate's degrees.
Stablein said that about 25 to 30 percent of C.O.D. courses are direct conversion courses, meaning that these courses in the quarter system convert as the same courses in the semester format.
She said 2,799 C.O.D. courses were converted. "It was a huge process, involving hundreds of faculty, administrators and staff."
Stablein noted that while the entire C.O.D. curriculum was rewritten by Friday, Aug. 6, it must be reviewed by the Illinois Community College Board.
Because of the complexity of the conversion, C.O.D. has developed an 18-month Strategic Communications Plan that will guide students through the transition to semesters. The plan includes numerous specialized publications, a multimedia informational initiative, a web site and related Internet links. Also available will be an admissions transition brochure geared toward this year's high school seniors, as well as all current, new and prospective students; a student handbook; and a transition workshop brochure that will describe training workshops about the conversion.
In all correspondence with students, C.O.D. is emphasizing that students communicate often with college advisers and faculty.
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"Students can come in and meet with an adviser and faculty, not necessarily to map out an exact plan, but to at least start looking at how they are going to finish the sequences and how the quarter courses will translate to the semester format," Pelletier said.
Pelletier's area is developing a student planning worksheet that will help students make certain that they fulfill all degree requirements. The worksheet will spell out the categories of degree requirements and which courses satisfy those general education requirements, she said. The worksheet will also compare courses under the quarter system and what those courses will be in the semester format.
Credits earned under the quarter system are to be converted to semester credits by dividing the number of quarter credits by 1.5. For example, a student who has earned 60 quarter credits will have earned 40 semester credits: 60 divided by 1.5 = 40 semester credits.
A handbook for students will also be provided. "The rhythm of the academic calendar is going to change a little bit," Pelletier said. "Students are used to the quarter system as being very fast. Under the semester format, they are going to be taking more courses at a time and they will have a longer period to absorb the material."
The college is also carefully considering its new students. "We are very aware of our students who are starting in the fall of 2004," Pelletier said. "If they have two years to finish their degree, they could have possibly one year under the quarter system and one year under the semester format.
We want to ensure that these students from day one have a plan that will help them finish their two years as seamlessly as possible."
To that end, the college presented unique "one-stop" Orientation/Advising/Registration workshops that began July 30 to brief new students on the conversion process. These workshops ended on Friday, Sept. 10.
Students need to take advantage of the conversion resources that the college is providing for them, recommended both Pelletier and Stablein. "We want students to pay attention to the mailings and come in and take advantage of the increased number of advisers who are here to help them," Pelletier said.
"Students have been fairly independent and self-paced under the quarter system," said Stablein. "But with this conversion, all students will have to seek advice and read information like never before." Stablein recommends that students talk with advisers and C.O.D. faculty. She also said that the C.O.D. web site, www.cod.edu, will be an invaluable tool for all students.
For more information, students can call the college's Counseling and Advising Services, (630) 942-2259. Students can contact their faculty advisers directly.
View Professor Stablein's Images interview in its entirety.
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