1. The goal of the transition process is to convert our curriculum from the quarter to the semester system in a way that maintains and improves the quality of the curriculum and enhances Auburn University's high standards of academic excellence in all of its programs in accordance with Auburn University's land grant mission and Institutional Goals as outlined by the Twenty-first Century Commission.
2. The faculty at the departmental level are responsible for developing the semester curriculum and the faculty at the college/school level are responsible for providing the primary review of departmental curricula within the college/school. The University Transition Committee encourages the faculty to structure the semester curriculum and calendar to encourage active faculty participation in research and outreach consistent with Auburn University's land grant mission.
3. The University Transition Committee intends that students will be protected in the transition process and in the semester system so that
5. The University Transition Committee acknowledges the central role of the administrative/
6. In developing the semester curriculum, the faculty should insure that
7. The University shall undertake comprehensive review and revision of the curriculum in all programs, departments, colleges and schools. All aspects of the curricula will be evaluated including the core curriculum, prerequisite courses, major and minor curricula, and interdisciplinary curricula. All academic majors, including interdisciplinary majors, must be based on and derived from a significant body of knowledge. This transition offers the faculty the opportunity to create a strong curriculum by determining the needs of the students and disciplines in the next century and by eliminating ineffectual aspects of the curriculum.
9. The core curriculum will constitute 41 semester hours of the semester hours required for the baccalaureate degree. The unique strengths of the core curriculum will be maintained. The core curriculum will comply with the state's General Studies Curriculum that is required of all state universities and will be designed to enhance articulation with Alabama's other postsecondary institutions.
10. It is the intention of the University Transition Committee that there will not be significant increases in class or laboratory sizes in the semester system compared to the quarter system. The scheduling of courses in the semester systems should fully utilize the existing classroom and laboratory space. Changes in traditional times and scheduling of courses and laboratories may be necessary in order to accommodate the space needs of the semester system.
11. All divisions, including Auburn University (main) and Auburn University at Montgomery, and all units within the University will be on a coordinated calendar to maximize interactions and efficiency and to minimize costs.
12. It is the intention of the University Transition Committee that the institutional resources required to operate under the semester system will not be significantly different from those required under the quarter system.
a. during the transition process all students, graduate and undergraduate, will have the opportunity to graduate in the same or shorter length of time as they would have on the quarter system.
b. in the semester system undergraduate students have a reasonable opportunity to graduate in four years (8 semesters).
c. transitional and/or reasonable substitute courses are provided for students to make the transition proceed smoothly between the quarter and semester systems.
d. students will be well informed so that they can make intelligent and informed decisions about the transition process.
e. an appeals process will be provided for students who believe that their academic progress has been hurt or hindered by the transition process.
f. the transition process and the semester system in and of themselves will not result in a substantial increase in tuition.
4. The University Transition Committee acknowledges that the transition process will require a substantial investment of time and intellectual energy by the faculty and makes a commitment to keep the faculty well informed and involved in the process. The Committee intends that the faculty will be protected during the transition process and in the semester system so that
a. teaching loads (contact hours/week), when calculated over a two (2) year period, are maintained at the same level in the semester system as compared to the quarter system. b. the transition process and the semester system themselves do not lower faculty salaries and benefits.
c. the summer program during the transition and in the semester system will be strong and vital and will offer the faculty the opportunity to teach as well as perform research and outreach activities.
d. in scheduling the semester classes the other activities of the faculty--research, outreach and service--will be considered to the extent possible.
professional and staff employees in making the transition from quarters to semesters a success. The Committee intends that all employees will be protected during the transition process and in the semester system so that
a. at all points in the process input from administrative/professional and staff employees will be actively solicited and given due consideration.
b. the transition process and the semester system themselves will not negatively affect employee salaries and benefits.
a. students are prepared for the challenges, problems and opportunities of the twenty-first century.
b. students are knowledgeable in their fields and in areas common to educated persons.
c. students have the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
d. students with diverse needs and from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
e. prerequisite courses contain the material and address the subject matter required by the curricula that they serve.
f. departmental requirements for majors, requirements for minors, and requirements for the core curriculum, college core, and other supporting courses are carefully coordinated as described in the Guidelines for Semester Degree Programs.
g. innovations in technology are or can be, when available, incorporated readily into the lectures and laboratories.
h. the effectiveness of the summer program is preserved and summer programs are provided that meet the needs of all students including K through 12 teachers and cooperative education students.
8. One goal of the transition process is to develop a semester curriculum that allows the students a reasonable opportunity to obtain their baccalaureate degrees in four years (eight semesters) with a minimum requirement of 120 semester hours. Semester hours beyond the minimum 120 hours should be added to a major's curriculum only because of the demands of the major and/or of accreditation/certification requirements.