RIT on TV News: Semester Announcement

WROC-TV (Channel 8) reports on the decision to move Rochester Institute of Technology off the quarter system and to a semesters academic calendar in 2013.

I don't understand how they can do that, said Alex Hogue, a freshman.

Worry set in for some students hours after the announcement.

It works now, said Tyler Krick, a freshman. I don't see why we should change it.

Hogue and Krick are in five-year programs at RIT. By moving from quarters to semesters in their final year, they are concerned about finishing their co-ops on time.

If they don't set up the credits right, if they don't transfer my credits properly, however they do it, I'll have to stay an extra semester, possibly two, Krick said.

Chris Cmolik, also a freshman and five-year student, says a semester schedule will be better.

It lines up more easily for other jobs other employers might be offering for internships and coops, Cmolik said.

President Bill Destler took to the airwaves on campus to explain why he is doing it.

This was not an easy decision and one that included a large number of factors, Destler.

He took questions from callers, people on Facebook and students outside the studio.

We really believe this will be in the best interest of the institution long term," Destler said.

Destler says the quarter system has isolated RIT and complicated student transfer, exchange and study abroad programs.

He says current students will not spend one extra day at RIT because of the change.

Every student will be sat down with an advisor, they'll be shown their current transcript with the quarter system, how their credits transfer to another semester and how they'll be able to complete their degree without any problem, Destler said.

Krick says the quarter system brought him to RIT. He wants it to stay that way.

Just leave us with quarters until we graduate. Once we're all done do semesters for everybody here, Krick said.

Destler says there may be a reduction in the total number of courses offered. But he says some courses may be combined because of the longer class time in the semester system. He will be working out the details with students and staff in the coming months.

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