1. OACC SEMESTER SUMMIT Friday, October 2, 2009 Presenters:
Dr. Richard J. McCarbery
Mary Jane Pasky
Lu Phillips

2. Introduction Video – Dr. Richard McCarbery Semester Conversion
Timeline
Issues

3. Semester Conversion categories
Academics
Student Services
Marketing/Communication
Administrative/Operational Issues

4. Academics Fairness – “Do no harm” Common rules applied consistently
Full credit for previous coursework
No delay in completing degree
No educational cost increase as
a result of conversion

5. Academics Associate Degree Credit Hour Conversion 93 quarter hours to
62 semester hours – 72 max
Courses
4/5 credit hours on quarters to
a 3 credit hour norm
Sequence Courses
3 qtr. courses = 12/15 cr hrs to
2 sem. courses = 8/10 cr hrs

6. Academics Criteria for Sizing Courses
Prefix ratio .667 ratio of qtr hrs to
semesters
Existing quarter hours minus
recommended semester hours
(2 hours typical)
Compared to 3 hr norm and other
semester institution offerings

7. Academics Transitional Learning Experience Bridge courses
Independent study
Course repeat
Prerequisites

8. Academics Course Content Sequence on Quarters 2 3
Sequence on Semesters
½ and ½

9. Student services Advising Training Counselors and Advisors are major
source of info for students
Electronic degree audits
Semester course equivalencies
Historical course equivalencies
Must be able to recognize semester
courses from quarter courses

10. Student services Financial Aid No significant impact
Award calculations
SAP between quarters and semesters
Loan distribution
Grant and scholarship requirements
Update Forms

11. Marketing/ communication
Semester Conversion Kick-off
Publish attention-getting info (colorful,
designs, mascot, etc.)
Buttons, brochures, T-shirts, banners
Mailings to 40,000 students
Semester presence at all events
Semester Conversion Guide
Office staff – basic info to field
inquiries

12. Administrative/ operational issues
Calendar
Modular calendar – 15, 10, 8, and 5
week classes
Academic calendars – 3 years
Final exam schedules

13. Administrative/ operational issues
Scheduling
Time block scheduling
Planning Guide – when courses will
be offered
College activities (FamilyFest,
Stocker Center Performances, etc.)
Policies and Procedures
Neutral position to maintain current

14. challenges New Student Information System and
Semester Conversion simultaneous
Approved 1 hour College 101 course
added additional hour to programs
First week glitches

15. Questions/discussion
Contact Information:
Mary Jane Pasky
Coordinator of Distance Learning
Lu Phillips
Research Analyst
Website: