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Kelly Mori writes about health and higher education.Home > Blogs > On Campus > Archives > 2008 > November > 03
Monday, November 3, 2008
Chancellor Fingerhut addresses college transition from quarters to semesters
The University System of Ohio’s “Strategic Plan for Higher Education” calls for public colleges and universities that are still on the quarter system to consider transitioning to a semester academic calendar.
Having a common academic calendar would allow students greater ease in transferring to institutions that match their academic pursuits and personal circumstances, according to the plan.
Eric D. Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, addressed the transition to a single academic calendar on Friday, Oct. 31, during a question-and-answer session at an Academic Leaders Conference at Sinclair Community College.
“We know that we have to be as flexible for students as we possibly can, and so being on a common academic calendar across the state is in the best interest of our state and the best interest of our students,” Fingerhut said to leaders from 30 Ohio colleges and universities.
“Now I do understand that this is a difficult and expensive process, and time-consuming. I know this going to take some time. That’s why this is a 10-year plan,” he said. “I don’t expect it to happen overnight.”
Fingerhut said that he expects community colleges to follow the lead of four-year institutions in their area in transitioning to a semester calendar.
“The four universities in Ohio that are still on the quarter system, they’re small schools like Ohio State, the University of Cincinnati, Ohio University and Wright State,” Fingerhut said, drawing laughter from the audience.
Fingerhut described the transition to a single academic calendar as “collaborative” with the schools.
“In terms of the implementation timetable, that’s something that’s still up in the air and will be decided by each school separately,” he said.
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Clark State’s president top CEO
Congratulations to Clark State Community College President Karen Rafinski who, this weekend, was named the nation’s top community college CEO.
Rafinski was named the top regional CEO in October and I was using the award as an excuse to write a long-overdue profile on the 11-year president of Clark State.
That story, scheduled to run Sunday, will now profile Rafinski as the top national CEO, chosen among leaders of more than 600 community colleges in the U.S.
A few things Clark State board chairman Jim Doyle credits her for:
•The largest and most rapid growth in Clark State’s history.
•Two new academic centers, including the new Greene Center in Beavercreek.
•A student-to-foundation-assets ratio that ranks number one in the state.
•And last year’s capital campaign that exceeded its goal by 71 percent.
Congratulations Karen and Clark State.
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Students need proper ID at the polls
Voters will have to prove residency when they head to the polls tomorrow, Nov. 4.
That can be a challenge for out-of-state/county college students whose every piece of ID likely has their home address.
So what to do?
A utility bill will suffice for students who live off-campus but won’t be much help to students who live in residence halls. And a college ID will not be accepted, according to state elections officials.
Wittenberg University is issuing dorm-room utility bill statements to students who will vote locally. The university hopes to stave off any obstacles for students, some of whom reported some resistance when they registered.
Student complaints ranged from challenges to their right to vote here to claims that their parents would no longer be able to claim them on their taxes.
About 500 students registered for the first time despite the complaints, the university reported.
While we’ll let the Secretary of State’s office handle the complaints, we’ll use this time to remind students and perhaps parents of a student voting away from home to get their residency ducks in order before they head to the polls.
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