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.

Semester Conversion for Athletes

With the semester conversion just a few months away it is time to start thinking about your fall semester 2013 schedule. For everyone at RIT, the system will be a change. Over the next few blog posts, we are going to be pushing out important information for different bodies of students to consider.

This week we will be discussing the important things to consider when making your schedule if you are a campus athlete:

• Unlike in the quarter system when fall athletes were only impacted with one quarter and could take classes at different times during the winter and spring, there will be less flexibility due to the two semesters. Spring athletes unlike the current system will only have to think about one enrollment rather than their current two. Winter athletes will arguably be the most impacted because of the fact that both semesters will be affected. Winter athletes will have to talk through class options with their advisors and coaches.

• Another important thing to consider if you are an athlete is co-op. Fall athletes will look into not going on co-op during fall quarter and have to discuss with coaches and advisors options for spring due to spring season/training. The reverse will be true for spring athletes. Winter athletes will have to work hand in hand with their coaches and advisors to develop a plan that will work for them.

All coaches are different, some will work with athletes missing preseason, postseason, or select practices during the week. Other coaches have a harder time working around student schedules. Athletes, you know your coaches and if you do have a problem sit down with the advisors specific for athletes to work through issues.

Each athlete will be affected differently; however, it is important to talk with your advisors and coaches to work through your individual plans.

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! 

Got Holds?

Shopping carts open October 1st for the Winter Enrollment this year and students are now logging into the Student Center more frequently to begin building their schedules. As the winter quarter enrollment period nears there are three major categories of holds that are appearing on student accounts recently (there are a few others that are less likely to appear). Some holds are unclear about what they mean and students are worried they may effect their winter quarter enrollment. Here is a little fact sheet about major holds and what they mean for students:

1. Financial Hold
• This type of hold needs to be resolved with financial services.
• It could mean:
• You have an unpaid bill.
• There could have been a mistake and it needs to be clarified.
• Or another reason.
2. Advising Hold
• This is a Semester Conversion I.A.P. Hold 
• This hold will not prohibit a student from enrolling in classes for the winter and spring; however, the student needs to meet with their advisor and sign-off on their I.A.P. (Individual Advisement Plan) before they will be allowed to enroll in classes for the Winter Semester. 
• Your advisor will be contacting you regarding a meeting to discuss the upcoming semester conversion and how you will stay on track with the new courses and requirements in order to graduate on time.
3. Academic Advising Hold
• All first years students at RIT are required to meet with their academic department to discuss their upcoming enrollment for winter.
• This hold will only be removed only after a student meets with their advisor.
• Recommendation: Contact your advisor now to schedule this appointment before enrollment begins. 
• Advisors get extremely busy during enrollment periods and may not have time for a walk-in appointment.

***Students should begin resolving their holds now as they can effect enrollment for winter quarter.***

Changes in your Academic Program

Everyone is who not graduating prior to September 2013 will be effected by semesters.  Some students have gone above and beyond to avoid being on campus after the conversion but for those that will be here for this monumental strategic move for RIT here are some of the changes you will experience.

Your academic program may be shifting in one of the following ways:

• a reduced number of credits to graduate (1 semester credit = .67  trimester credit)
• Remember 1 semester credit will still equal 1 hour of class time.
• More 3 credit classes will be offered
• They average student will take five three credit courses per semester

Out side of your academic program campus changes will be made including:

• The new SIS system
• The billing schedule, though students  will still be paying the same amount on semesters as they would on quarters, they will be making larger payments at single periods of time (Totals will be divided by 2 rather than 3)
• There will be a 3 week intersession of classes in January
• This will be a fast paced class time which students can take a class to get ahead or catch-up on studies.
• Course withdrawal dates will be shifted to fit the longer semesters.
• Other academic policies will be modified as well.

Stay tuned for more information on:

• Your program on quarters and semesters
• Minors
• Double Majors
• Dual Degrees

Things to Know

As RIT prepares to convert to semesters, there are a few things students will be discussing with their advisors:

• How their program will make the transition to semesters from quarters.
• This will be individualized based on what each student has taken in the past.
• How GPAs will be affected on the semester system.
• A Student's GPA will remain the same on semesters as it is on quarters.
• How many credits do my classes equal? 
• Unlike on quarters where classes are typically 4 credits, most classes will carry a weight of 3 credits. 
• How will my credits be applied in the semester system?
• Quarter credits to semester credits are calculated by multiplying the quarter credits by .67.
• What new courses will be offered?
• What old courses will be removed from programs?
• How many courses students should take during a given semester.
• The typical student will take 5 courses each semester.
• How will Tuition Fees be affected?
• Each student will pay the same total amount per year; however, each semester bill will be larger than a quarter bill has been in the past.  But rest assured it is the same price. 

****Get to know the facts about your program, so when you do meet with your advisor this year, you will have questions to ask.**** 

What does that hold on my account mean?

You may or may not have noticed a new hold on your student account in Student Center.  You may have freaked out a little bit or you may not have cared, well I am here to say not to worry.

First off, this is what the hold looks like:

 Click on details to see more.  This is the next screen you will see:

Now you may be questioning what Advising means or questioning what this hold means.  This hold has been put on your account due to the semester conversion.  In previous posts, I have mentioned I.A.P.s, this post is an Individual Advisement Plan hold.  It does not limit you from enrolling in classes for the winter or spring quarters; however, if you do not meet with your advisor before Fall 2013 Semester Enrollment (in approximately April 2013), you will not be allowed to enroll in classes.  Only your advisor can remove this hold.

You will need to see your advisor prior to the conversion; in order to, guarantee that you stay on track and graduate on time.  For those students graduating at the end the 2012-13 year, this hold does not apply to you.  For those not graduating this year, your advisor will be contacting you over the course of the next few months to set up an appointment.

You can bring any questions and concerns to this meeting and you and your advisor can sort through them together.

It is also important to remember, the IAP hold does not restrict you from registering for Winter and Spring classes, it will restrict you from registering for Fall Semester classes.  If you can not enroll in Winter Classes you may have a different hold on your account.  These holds could include a dean's hold, another advising hold, or a financial hold.  These holds will need to be resolved prior to enrollment and have nothing to do with semester conversion.

All students that were new to RIT this fall will have an advising hold on their account to talk over their next quarter schedules.  These two advising holds are different.  One is Academic Advising (IAP) and the other is Advising Required and if you have both, you will need to see your advisor to remove the winter quarter registration hold.

If you have any questions about holds you can email your advisor, stop into student services, or contact us on our Semester Conversion Facebook or Twitter.