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Show V V BEST CAMPUS NEWS: Dont call me Gieg Brady put on quite a show at the quarters opening Convocation here yesterday. PAGE 3. CAMPUS ARTS: suu musician Natalie Steadman says music helps her and others to vent frustrations. PAGE 16. CAMPUS SPORTS: suus women roundballers turned a game over to Portland last night in the Centrum 63-5- PAGE 18. STATE NEWS: Centennial celebrations rocked the entire state of Utah in a myriad of exciting fashions. PAGE 12. NAT'L NEWS: GOP leaders worked late into the night on a plan to end the government shutdown. PAGE 13 ld WORLD NEWS: Bosnia Serbs yesterday bowed to pressure and released 16 civilians who had entered their territory. PAGE 13. NAT'L SPORTS: Sources from within the Miami Dolphins organization say that Coach Don Shula is poised to retire. PAGE 25. ACADEMIC FOCUS Continuing Education: From screenwriting to ballet, theres something for everyone in evening school this quarter. Professor of Mathematics Steven Heath is among those SUU faculty members who would welcome a change to the semester system. The State Board of Regents may vote for such a move later this month. Semester switch decision looms here Regent action may move SUU from quarter system as soon as 1998 Richards said that a trend toward the semester calendar the nation's colleges and universities. "Recently Minnesota and Georgia converted their s of schools," Richards said. "Currently about the colleges and universities nationwide are using the semester calendar." course in the quarter system is Typically, a three-credthe equivalent of a class in the semester system. Eight of the nine state institutions of higher education in Utah are on the quarter system, however if another institution in addition to Utah Valley State College makes the change, others are likely to follow. "One of the advantages of the semester system is that it will aid in the transfer of credits," Richards said. SUU's faculty remains split on the issue today. Professor of Mathematics Steven Heath said that after weighing the pros and cons of the semester system he would support it based on the possibility of curriculum reform. "In the past few years we have gone from being a state college to a university," said Heath, "I believe that this would complete that transition. We need the advantages of a extended curriculum. Some courses would lend themselves quite well to that schedule, others may not." However, Heath said that he would only like to see SUU convert to the semester system if it is supported by an overwhelming majority of the faculty. is spreading across By J. ARTHUR FIELDS SENIOR STAFF WRITER three-fourth- r'hen the Utah State Board of Regents meets this month, members could very well be reshaping tf the educational system at several state colleges and universities in the state, including SUU. The debate whether SUU should retain its current quarter system or adopt a semester calendar has surfaced many times in the past. school year, of faculty members who During the 1989-9voted, 62 opted to convert to a semester system while 42 voted to remain with the current quarter system if the choice were offered by the Regents, which it ultimately 0 was not. The primary reason for voting to switch, said most faculty members at the time, was that longer blocks provided more educational benefits for students. In a report prepared in the mid 1980s, the observation was made that "students would be given more time to think, reflect; and prepare for class. Faculty would have time for more class development and for courses. reading, writing, research, and Evaluation of student work could be more thorough and complete..." "This has been a topic of discussion for some time," said Vice President for University Affairs Michael D. Richards. "Every two or three years the debate resurfaces." ss !!:!! iti- ir ! "'it it two-cred- it (continued on page in 'Vt:vN 11) |