Show Are Semesters on the Way H By Ernie Geddes Staff Writer Future students at Salt Lake Community College may rilaY have a surprise in store The Board of Regents the governing board over p public higher education institutions in Utah is currently considering a proposal proposal proposal pro pro- to change all colleges and universities in Utah to the semester system The Hie recommendation which was given by one of six action groups in the tile Post Secondary Education tion Strategic Planning Committee representing all ail public public public pub pub- lic institutions in Utah was just one of hundreds given to the board The proposal came from one of the action groups within the Post Secondary Education Strategic Strategic Strategic Strate Strate- gic Planning committee As of right now Utah Valley Valley Valley Val Val- ley State College is the tile only public institution currently currently currently cur cur- using the semester system said Cecelia Foxley the commissioner of higher education changed to the system about four years ago The changed cost thousands of dol dol- dol- dol lars This is one of the factors being considered she said A semester usually runs from 14 12 weeks longer than a quarter depending on which institution you choose There are two semesters in an a academic year the first rust semester ends in December the Ole second in either ei either either ei- ei ther May Mayor or June Spring break normally marks the midpoint of a semester Many students like the tile semester system because it allows a longer period for class instruction thereby allowing more information to be presented Registration takes place twice a year and on the economic side students only have to purchase books twice instead of three times as in the quarter system The quarter system system tile Uie system currently uses uses has has also has adv advantages Critics of the semester system say that three quarters allow for a greater diversity diversity diversity diver diver- sity of classes and ensure a more complete and well well- rounded education for students The proposal to switch all institutions at the same time lime is based on consideration for the students If each institution were to switch at different times transferring could become even more complicated than it is now A student transferring between two institutions with different systems could run into some problems The institution n that the student was transferring to would have have to to decide not only which classes to j accept but how to place those classes in relationship relationship relationship relation relation- ship to the current curriculum This problem is already al already already al- al t ready faced by many stud students nt who transfer to out out of state colleges and universities on the semester system assures that the change will be well thought out and d every factor considered There is ti tino no deadline for a decision tI she said Our goal is t what is best for the students 1 5 t 5 1 |