Moultrie Tech to Exchange Quarters for Semesters
Moultrie Technical College (MTC) and its 28 sister schools in Georgia’s Technical College System (TCSG) have set the date – July 1, 2011 – as the time for a major class switch from the current quarter system to the semester system.
The quarter to semester conversion (Q2S) puts all three of Georgia’s major educational systems of K-12, the University System of Georgia and the TCSG on an aligned academic calendar. With the change, Moultrie Tech will join the 80 percent of colleges and universities in the U.S. that follow a semester calendar.
Working groups comprised of TCSG system staff and Moultrie Tech administrators in Colquitt, Tift, Turner and Worth counties have been at work throughout the last year to address all necessary curriculum, scheduling, financial aid, information technology and operational aspects of the conversion.
MTC President Tina Anderson said of the conversion, “Some of the benefits to students will be the ease of transfer for those who need that option, calendar alignment with the majority of colleges and universities in Georgia and across the country, and extended instructional time for greater mastery of program content and necessary job skills.”
The TCSG cites other benefits as ease of scheduling for high school dual and joint enrollment students, extended learning opportunities for students completing a clinical rotation or internship, and fewer entry points and disruptions for clinical partners and internship hosts.
According to Anderson, “Along with our TCSG Board, the Q2S conversion has the support of the Governor’s Office as well as key stakeholders like the Commission on Colleges accrediting agency.”
“Working with state budget officials, we are developing ways to ease the financial impact to the system and to Moultrie Tech, despite a tough budget environment.”
Starting in July 2010, Moultrie Tech faculty and staff members will also have a full year for in-person student advising, so that each transitional student is well-informed about the change and has specific program questions and needs addressed.
All students who began their TCSG education under the quarter system will receive a one-on-one advisement session to create an individual academic plan to complete their program on semesters.
TCSG officials say financial aid and other forms of student grants and scholarships will not be negatively impacted by the conversion.
Georgia’s HOPE grant and HOPE scholarships, which over 90 percent of Moultrie Tech students currently receive, will continue to pay the charges for tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students. In addition, the semester conversion will not affect students on unemployment benefits or on the GI Bill.
