The Academics Committee of the Ohio University Board of Trustees will recommend that the full board approve a switch to semesters at its meeting today.

Executive Vice President and Provost Kathy Krendl estimated that the transition would cost OU $2 million in one-time only expenses. That budget does not include the cost of the new Student Information System.

Krendl stressed that the transition is viewed as a time to examine and improve the curriculum.

Committee Chair M. Marnette Perry worried that the change might prevent some students from coming to OU, but Krendl said that by the time the university switches to semesters in 2012, all state universities will be on the same system. Of the four state schools still on a quarter system, OU is the first to go to its trustees for action, she said.

OU President Roderick McDavis recommended the switch at the board’s June meeting after the Ohio Board of Regents urged all state universities to use a common calendar to ease transfers.

Krendl answered Perry’s question about university attitudes toward the switch by saying that preparation is “a real team effort.” The transition team is made up of a combination of faculty members, students and administrators.

“It’s a highly iterative process and also a high engaged process across the campus,” she said.