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Show ( THE THUNDERBIRD PAGE 3 THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 1989 SUSC UVCC decision reopens semester debate BY because of its connections with Brigham Young University which operates on a semester system. Likewise, SUSC needs to remain compatible with the needs of Dixie College, Snow College and the College of Eastern Utah which all feed students into Cedar City, and which all currently operate on the quarter system. Mark Barton, director of admissions and records, agreed that SUSC has to accom-modat- e these junior colleges, but at the same time he said SUSCs conversion to the semester system is inevitable, and said he would like to see the transformation within the next few years. On the other hand, Don Reid, associate professor o teacher education and last years faculty senate president, said he was unsure that any changes would made in the near future. Reid said that in 1986, the Board of Regents requested that each of Utahs nine public colleges and universities make a recommendation to the board concerning the possibility of changing the academic calendar to a semester system. PETER TAGG Utah Valley Community Colleges recent decision to adopt a semester calendar in 1990 has prompted SUSC students and faculty to again weigh the advantages of such a program, despite last years faculty senate decision to continue the current quarter system. Changing an academic calendar is a major decision for any institution since it involves a number of educational, psychological, social and administrative factors. The outcome of SUSCs calendar can be assessed by looking at the educational background and the advantages and disadvantages of both systems. SUSC Provost Terry Alger said that for the academic calendar choice to be effective it must be matched carefully with the appropriate institutional situation. Institutions must be willing to evaluate and compare calendar options in light of their own internal needs. There is no absolute right or wrong, he said. Its a matter of choice. Alger said this individual preference is demonstrated by UVCC, which will change to semesters mainly (CONTINUED ON PAGE VI VI j j 5) Increased travel costs reduce field trips may hike raises ire in motor Mid-yea- BY pool fees r JODI REINARD An increase in rental costs for vehicles in SUSCs motor pool may travel, jeopardize departmental field trips and other college-relate- d of their future heads unsure to two according department transportation options. increase could include a cutback on Repercussions of the student and excursions alike. The education faculty monitoring trips week vehicles to supervise student every department uses the teachers all over the state, said Quenton R. Bowler, department head of teacher education. Financially, it wont affect students, but with the budget being set, and when it is gone, we will not be able to supervise students. We will have to cut down on the number of field trips because it costs more to provide them, said Bowler. The fee hike is not as bad as the timing of the increase, according to Richard R. Kennedy, head of SUSCs physical science department. Mid-yea- r is not the time to add (costs), he said. Our budget has been established. We have no way of increasing the travel budget. If (the increase) was implemented at the beginning of the year, it would have been better. The timing is atrocious, said Kennedy. The education department concurred with the science department. is a We have no way of allocating funds to cover costs. Mid-yea- r We Bowler are added. the time to stuck, implement program. rough In addition to other proposed cutbacks, SUSCs faculty and staff might possibly have to refrain from attending professional conferences. This would impact our ability to attend conferences to increase our professional ability and exposure. We will not be able to stretch the budget, said Kennedy. lower Alternatives to motor pool vehicle usage included-findinrent-a-crates and using personal modes of transportation. Occasionally, we use our own cars. We have considered We can get a certain number of unlimited miles free. Therefore, a rent-a-cwould be less than a college vehicle. But, I hesitate to do those types of things because it is a service, but the service is becoming costly, and we have to supervise our teachers, said Bowler. Although the fee hike has inconvenienced many who use campus vehicles, motor pool officials say the increase was necessary to keep SUSCs automobiles safe and running properly. We have had a rash of engine failures due to some other minor problems. The driver doesnt always see the problem and will continue to drive instead of shutting it off and calling for help, said Gale R. Garrett, motor pool receiving manager. The motor pool has not received a budget increase in nearly two years, which added to the services funding needs, said Garrett. Our last increase was July 1, 1987. State funding was cut due to budget cuts. We need to provide the service, and so the increase was necessary, said Garrett, who hopes the increase will not have a great effect on utilization. Bowler said the increase will not heavily impact the cost of longy minimum can make the cost of distance trips, but the short trips infeasible. g ar rent-a-car- ar both freshmen, SUSC elementary education major Kari Dodak and biology major Kaycee Shoeller, Contest Snow ASSUSCs in yesterday. Sculpturing the colleges Baptist Student Union represented VICAs entry placed first in the competition, followed by PBL. $16-per-da- s. |