In fall 2012, Ohio University and the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine will transition from quarters to semesters―a system that divides the academic year into fall, spring and summer terms. The conversion is consistent with the University System of Ohio's Strategic Plan for Higher Education. OU-HCOM’s fall semester 2012 begins July 9. Here’s what to expect and how you can get ready for the change.

Faculty and Staff

• Summer 2012 will be a “short summer” due to the Q2S transition:  spring quarter 2012 will end June 10, and fall semester 2012 begins July 9, for the Class of 2016 orientation. You should plan for this and other calendar changes that will happen as a result of the Quarters to Semesters conversion.

• By May 2012,  all departments will be responsible for updating policies, procedures, manuals, guidelines, timelines and web pages to reflect the change to semesters―including editing language to say “term” instead of “quarter.”

• The final logistical schedule for Academic Year 12-13 block sequence and timing for facilitation and group changes has been posted here.
 

Students

•  Want to know how the OMS I and OMS II academic calendar will look after the switch from quarters to semesters next year? The Q2S website now provides a downloadable PDF schedule with this information. The document's middle column shows each week of the year, with CPC and PCC curricula displayed on either side. Download it to learn: 

• The timing of block sequences and facilitation and group changes,

• How the OU-HCOM schedule aligns with the university's semester calendar, and

• When fall term begins (hint: about two weeks earlier in the semesters system than the quarters system).

• Class of 2013, 2014 and 2015,  All OU-HCOM courses have been laid out for students to accommodate the calendar conversion without impacting time-to-degree completion. Therefore, as long as a student maintains steady progress toward their degree (i.e., doesn't need to repeat courses, take remedial courses, or take a leave of absence, etc.) and would have graduated in four years under the quarter system, that student will be able to graduate in four years under the semester system.

• Semester curriculum requirements (downloadable PDFs):

Class of 2013 (PCC) (CPC)                      Class of 2014 (PCC) (CPC)

One year on semesters                              Two years on semesters

Class of 2015 (PCC) (CPC)                      Class of 2016 (PCC) (CPC)

Three years on semesters                         Four years on semesters

• Learn about course catalog changes including course numbers by visiting this page and selecting OHIO University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine catalog 2011-2012.

• With semester change comes new class times: Be prepared to keep an eye on the clock when we switch to semesters--after the transition, all OU-HCOM classes will start on the hour. While the change creates standard and easier start times, OU-HCOM classes will continue to utilize time slots of 50 minute increments. Meanwhile, the university will hold 55- and 110- minute-long classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 80- and 110-minute long classes, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Both the college and the university will continue to maintain 10-minute breaks in between classes for faculty, staff and students to travel to their next class.

• Members of the Classes of 2015 and 2016 can prepare for the Q2S transition by downloading a list of key dates for the OU-HCOM 2012-2013 academic year.  Click this link to see the tentative schedule, which includes specific dates for university holidays, breaks, and key college events, such as convocation/White Coat Ceremony and Graduation.

Additional Resources:

OU-HCOM's Q2S logistical schedule regarding block sequence and timing for facilitation and group changes

OU-HCOM’s academic schedules page

OU-HCOM’s quarters to semesters calendar

Ohio University’s quarters to semesters website

Key dates for 2012-2013 (Classes of 2015 and 2016)

Questions? Contact mowrer@ohio.edu.