Semester Conversion for Business Students

As was started last week, I am going around to different colleges and groups of students and finding out how semester conversion will impact them. This week I went and discovered how business students will be impacted and what they should consider when planning for next year. I found out the following things:

• Business students, for the first time in the Saunders College, will have classes on Fridays. With courses being offered three times a week for an hour a day (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) or two times a week for an hour and a half (Tuesday and Thursday) or just once a week for three hours. Now those are only some of the possible combination of days and times. The fact is however, business students will have classes on Fridays. This may not seem like a huge deal to those majors that have always had classes on Fridays; however, if you are a current business student, the change will be felt.

• Like many other colleges, classes in Saunders are changing. Classes are being combined, removed from the program plans, or changing names. Majors and minors are being added Orr titles are being changed. It will be important to work one on one with your advisor to make sure you are taking the classes necessary for your new program plan.

• In terms of co-op, Saunders College students will now have to complete either one semester of co-op or two summer co-ops. Planning these out will be important. Talking to your advisor if you have already completed one of your co-op requirements on quarters will be important to create your I.A.P.

Are you a business student? If you are you may have questions and we can answer them. Tweet us or message us on Facebook or contact your advisor for help on your I.A.P. and making your transition to semesters as smooth as possible.

The Conversion Impact Claim

New information has been released about Semester Conversion! 

Do you as a student think you will financially be impacted by the conversion? You may be eligible to initiate a Conversion Impact Claim.  But what is a Conversion Impact Claim? According to RIT, " A Conversion Impact Claim is a process initiated by an eligible transition student who believes that he/she has been financially harmed by RIT's transition to semesters."  We as a semester conversion team encourage all students to read the Conversion Impact Claim.

A few highlights from the document (taken directly from the document): 

RIT will review Conversion Impact Claims until fall semester 2015 begins.

The following are NOT eligible:

1. First time, full-time freshman class of 2012 and beyond and transfer students entering in 2012-13 and beyond. These students have been admitted into RIT under semester program requirements.
2. Transition students who, at time of the preparation of their IAP [Individual Advisement Plan for transition to semesters] have not declared a major or who are enrolled in The University Studies Program.
3. Part-time students who will complete their degree requirements in the semester calendar.
4. Students with IAP holds who neglect to comply with the University's request for all students transitioning to semesters to complete an IAP with their advisor during 2012-2013.
5. Undergraduate and graduate students who complete their quarter degree requirements prior to the fall semester of 2013.

There are also circumstances beyond RIT's control which are specifically excluded for consideration with regard to the University Pledge. Such situations include, but are not limited to:

• Living expenses (i.e. room and board), transportation expenses, medical insurance, or any other expenses that a student may incur as necessary to remain matriculated at RIT. These expenses, whether payable to RIT or otherwise, are not deemed to be subject to the University Pledge
• Students' inability to find and/or complete a required co-op work assignment, regardless of reason.
• Loss of non-institutionally funded financial aid, whether due to enrollment status (full-time or part-time) or expiration of scholarship/student aid benefits.
• Loss of income from waived co-op terms.

For more information, students are encouraged to check out the full document at: http://www.rit.edu/conversion/students_impact.php

If students have any questions regarding this issue they are encouraged to contact their advisor, department, or ask questions on any of the Semester Conversion social media channels and we can point them in the right direction! 

Semester Conversion is Coming

Rochester Institute of Technology is converting to semesters on August 26th, 2013.  The university will be preparing for the switch to semesters over the next year.  This blog was set up by the Semester Conversion team to answer questions and give out information that will help students prepare for the conversion and make sure they stay on track and graduate on time. 

In the next year (2012-13 academic year) it will be extremely important for students to meet with their advisors and set up an Individual Advisement Plan (I.A.P.).  These plans help prepare students for the switch to semesters because classes and requirements are going to be shifting within majors as we switch from quarters to semesters.

The IAP will include a break down of the requirements students will need to take (classes and co-op included) in order to graduate on time. 

Your academic adivsor will be contacting you over the course of the next academic year to sit down and talk about your I.A.P. (students do not need to initiate these meetings).  These meetings will allow you to ask questions and plan out your remaining career at RIT.  This IAP is not a binding agreement but a draft of what students should follow in order to graduate on time as planned.

Stay tuned for more information!

Get to Know: Courtney Tennant

Hey RIT community, my name is Courtney Tennant and I transferred in enough credits coming out of high school in 2010, that I am currently a 4th year new media marketing major in Saunders College of Business with a mass media communications minor.  I will be graduating next May (a year early) and continuing on with the 4 + 1 MBA program.

I am currently completing my double block Co-Op with the RIT GeneSIS project.  I have just been hired to work on the Semester Conversion project, as well as, at Accelerate Media in downtown Rochester part-time. 

I have been working with Twitter (@courtnettennis) for the past few years but began using it on a daily basis when I came to RIT because as anyone in SCB knows, any Social Media is crucial in the business world, especially in New Media Marketing.  I am also on Facebook and LinkedIn: Courtney Tennant.

I came to RIT in I guess a non-traditional RIT fashion because I went through the college selection process with basketball on my mind.  As the time came to choose a school I looked at schools from the academic standpoint and where I would be happiest if I didn't have basketball, RIT was the place for me.  On my 2nd visit on Accepted Students Day, RIT became the clear choice for me from the moment I stepped on campus.  I could really see myself growing as a person and in the 2 years I have been here I have changed and grown into the more adult version I strive to be.

I am originally from Cortland, NY so just about two hours down the highway but for me that distance was perfect because my family and I are extremely close and they are still able to attend most of my games and be my biggest support system when the stress of RIT arises. 

I am really excited about helping you learn all about Semester Conversion and hope to make your transition to semesters a smooth one.  My goal is to prepare you for the upcoming changes and help you stay on track and graduate on time, Individual Advisement Plans (IAPs) will come in handy for this. And as I learn new information about the conversion (which becomes available everyday) I will pass it on to you.