Special Working Committee on the Semester System papers

Collection

Identifier: 539

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection contains memos, reports, minutes and proposals regarding placing the University of Minnesota on the semester system. Also included are three folders of materials from other institutions, Iowa State, Penn State and the University of South Florida, regarding their conversion to a semester system, collected to give background information to the committee.

Dates

1983-1988

Creator

University of Minnesota. Special Working Committee on the Semester System (Organization)

Language of Materials

English

Use of Materials

Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Copyright

Requests for permission to quote from the Special Working Committee on the Semester System papers should be arranged with the University of Minnesota Archives head.

Historical Note

The Special Working Committee on the Semester System was appointed by University President C. Peter Magrath in September 1984. The chair was Dr. Betty Robinett, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. The purpose of the committee was to prepare a plan for possible transition to the semester system. A committee report was submitted at a meeting of the Board of Regents on April 12, 1985 outlining the major issues in deciding whether changing to a semester calendar was advisable.

In 1995, the Minnesota State Legislature mandated that the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities change to a semester based calendar in 1998. The Board of Regents voted in September 1995 to change to semesters in the fall of 1999. The conversion was carried out by the Office of Planning and Analysis.