Mustang Daily 4-12

Page 1

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Volume LXXVII, Number 80

SEMESTERS Despite recommendations by faculty, students and President Armstrong himself, Cal Poly will convert to the semester system within the next decade as part of a CSU decision for all schools to be on the same calendar.

NHA HA/MUSTANG DAILY

WORD ON THE STREET How do you feel about the semester decision?

“I’m not that surprised, but kind of disappointed that the students’ opinion wasn’t given more weight.” •Lawrence Smith mechanical engineering senior

“I think the quarter system is a defining trait that makes Cal Poly Cal Poly.” •Chris O’Meara recreation, parks and tourism administration junior

94 percent said no

MUSTANG DAILY STAFF REPORT news@mustangdaily.net

C

al Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong announced that the school will likely convert to semesters sometime within the next 10 years in a campus-wide email on Monday, despite recommendations to the contrary by the president’s Semester Review Task Force and Associated Students, Inc. (ASI). “If all goes as expected, Cal Poly (will) begin the process of converting to semesters by the end of the decade,” Armstrong wrote in the email. Though the decision may seem sudden, the road to actual conversion is a long one.

be involved, and determine what the campus as a whole thinks about the decision,” Fernflores said. “I’m still digesting the decision, but we always knew that semesters were a possibility.” Soon after, Armstrong announced he would continue to pursue exploration into semester conversion, prompt-

We do not have to begin this decision until the end of the decade. We have a good six to eight years to work though, and continue to focus on our goals.

Decision-making Cal Poly first began discussion of switching to semesters at the beginning of the school year, when Armstrong created the Semester Review Task Force with the intent to examine how Cal Poly would theoretically convert to semesters, and the feasibility of such a decision. In December, the task force concluded with a recommendation to Armstrong for Cal Poly to stay on the quarter system. Task Force chair Rachel Fernflores said the task force did everything it could to keep Cal Poly on its current calendar, but in the end, the decision rested with the chancellor. “All that the committee could do is study, know what would

discuss the implications of putting all campuses on one calendar system. In an email to the chancellor on Feb. 9, Armstrong officially recommended Cal Poly stay on the quarter system, citing the Semester Task Force Review report and ASI’s recent advisory vote as main reasons. “While I started the consul-

— JEFFREY ARMSTRONG CAL POLY PRESIDENT

ing several open forums and a February ASI student advisory vote on the topic. The advisory vote revealed more than 89 percent of students favored sticking to quarters. Armstrong, who has long been a proponent of semesters, then met with California State University (CSU) Chancellor Tim White and several other campus presidents to

tative process with the view that Cal Poly should convert, today as a result of the exhaustive process Cal Poly has been through, I believe that it is not the right time for our campus to convert from quarters to semesters,” Armstrong wrote. Despite this recommendation, Armstrong said White decided this week to begin transitioning the entire CSU

system to a semester-based calendar, though the decision is still not an official one. “The chancellor ... is moving down a pathway toward a decision that all quarter campuses would convert to semesters on a phase-in basis,” Armstrong said. “And this would mean Cal Poly, we would convert as well.” According to Armstrong, this phase-in would begin once the CSU officially decides to convert the remaining quarter campuses (six, including Cal Poly). Because of the school’s strong opposition against conversion, Cal Poly will be the last CSU campus to switch, Armstrong said. “In recognition of our Task Force Report, the student vote, the ASI Board of directors vote, my recommendation, the campus-wide vote of the students, the Academic Senate — all of those factors — we were given more time,” Armstrong said. “We do not have to begin this decision until the end of the decade. We have a good six to eight years to work though, and continue to focus on our goals.” CSU Public Affairs Assistant Liz Chapin said no official CSU announcement of the plan will be made until the chancellor has finished meeting with all campus presidents

MUSTANG DAILY POLL Do you approve of the CSUs plan to convert all campuses to semesters?

6 percent said yes

see SEMESTERS, pg. 2

CAUGHT ON THE WEB

The transition is going to suck, but they’re not doing it to piss us off, •Jessica Carter business administration sophomore

T W I T T ER

M US TA N GDA ILY. N E T

FACEBO O K

Chris Blackmer @_huck @mustangdaily “...what is best about quarters and retain those ...” Looking forward to seeing how they fit 3 classes a year into 2 semesters!

Mike S. mike.sudolsky@gmail.com I can understand why bureaucratic officials would want to simplify their lives and have the entire CSU on one calendar ... But it’s a real shame to hear Armstrong is going along with them despite the clear position of the enitre Cal Poly community. Come on Armstrong, do your job and represent the students.

Kalei White Disappointed. Our school should be trying to distance itself from other CSUs in my opinion.


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