Students included in semester debate

By Sophia Chakos-Leiby
Daily Bruin Contributor

In light of recent UCLA administrators and faculty considering
the change from quarters to semesters, the vice provost for
undergraduate education will meet with Undergraduate Students
Association Council members next week to gather undergraduate
opinions on the two academic calenders.

USAC academic affairs commissioner Bryant Tan and president
Karren Lane will be the primary members involved.

Vice provost Judith Smith said she hopes to gather student input
to share with the Academic Senate before it makes a recommendation
to Chancellor Albert Carnesale for approval.

“We are trying to get the students involved in this
process, and the student government might want to add to this
dialogue,” Smith said.

The AAC is also trying to involve students by surveying people
on Bruin Walk and talking with student groups, Tan said.

“Although a lot of students don’t take interest in
policies like this, groups like the Campus Retention Commission
have really thought about it “”mdash; and we need to solicit their
opinion,” he added.

Lane said she wants to learn the administration’s
perspective and see graduation and retention data from schools on
the semester system to compare to data from UCLA and other schools
on the quarter system.

Lane said she is undecided about which system to favor.

“There is no definitive answer,” Lane said.
“The administration and the students need to come together to
figure out the best scenario.”

Tan said he is leaning toward favoring the semester system
because it may improve student retention rates and help those
falling behind with their workload.

Because semester courses are worth more units, students do not
have to take as many classes to graduate, Tan said. He added that
abandoning the quarter system would decrease students’
opportunity to take interdisciplinary and elective courses.

“Underdeveloped writing skills, the fast pace in which
students can easily fall behind, and the difficulty in teaching
complex subjects are three issues about the quarter system that we
need to address,” Smith said.