The Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees unanimously recommended Thursday that Ohio State adopt a semester calendar.
"I sense that we are all in agreement about the issue," said John D. Ong, chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. "We will recommend [the resolution] to the board."
Last month, the University Senate decisively approved the resolution with a 91-19 vote margin.
"I can't think of a time when the board has ignored a committee recommendation," said Peter Koltak, president of Undergraduate Student Government.
Pending approval by the Board of Trustees today, OSU will adopt a semester calendar.
"I am in support of all the efforts," said Douglas G. Borror, vice chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. "This is what the university needs."
Although members of the committee voiced concerns about the economy and its implication on the implementation of the switch, Joseph Alutto, executive vice president and provost, said that the wording of the resolution gives the university extra time to adjust to a number of economic circumstances.
"We can't predict exactly what is going to happen with the economy," Alutto said. "But the phrase 'no earlier than Autumn 2012' gives ourselves a bit of wiggle room. We are very confident we can make that date."
The implementation costs will be between $5 million and $9 million, Alutto said.
"[The switch] coincides very happily with the Arts and Sciences restructuring, the improvement of our graduate programs and the emphasis of the quality of our undergraduate Student Life program," said Tim Gerber, professor of music and chair of the Semester Conversion Committee, "This is a very exciting time."
"At times it seems very chaotic," said Joan Leitzel, interim vice provost for the Arts and Sciences and interim executive dean of the Arts and Sciences Colleges. "We have a chance to redevelop the curriculum and redevelop Ohio State."
Amber Phelps can be reached at phelps.84@osu.edu.
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