{{short description|Division of the academic year into four parts}} {{about|division of an academic year into four parts|the quarter-hour at the start of a lecture|Academic quarter (class timing)}} An '''academic quarter''' refers to the division of an academic year into four parts, which commonly are not all exactly three months or thirteen weeks long due to breaks between terms.
== Historical context == The modern academic quarter calendar can be traced to the historic English law court / legal training pupillage four term system: {| class="wikitable" |+ British academic term variants ! Months !! Pupillage !! Cambridge !! Oxford |- | January–March || Hilary || Lent|| Hilary |- | April–May || Easter || Easter || Trinity |- | June–July || Trinity || — || — |- <!--August, September--> | October–December || Michaelmas || Michaelmas || Michaelmas |}
This quarter system was adopted by the oldest universities in the English-speaking world (Oxford, founded circa 1096,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation/history|title=University of Oxford - History|website=University of Oxford|access-date=2016-07-16}}</ref> and Cambridge, founded 1209<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cam.ac.uk/about-the-university/history/early-records|title=University of Cambridge - History|date=2013-01-28|website=University of Cambridge|access-date=2016-07-16}}</ref>).
Over time, Cambridge dropped Trinity Term and renamed Hilary Term to Lent Term, and Oxford also dropped the original Trinity Term and renamed Easter Term as Trinity Term, thus establishing the three-term academic "quarter" year widely found in countries with a lineage to England or the United Kingdom.
Charterhouse, an English independent school, still refers to its three academic terms as "quarters".
==United States==
=== Background and trends === In the United States, quarters typically comprise 10 weeks of class instruction,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nafsa.org/knowledge_community_network.sec/education_abroad_1/managing_an_education/practice_resources_37/facts_figures/how_to_fill_out_the_open |title=''Practice Resources'', NAFSA: Association of International Educators |access-date=2008-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503123134/http://www.nafsa.org/knowledge_community_network.sec/education_abroad_1/managing_an_education/practice_resources_37/facts_figures/how_to_fill_out_the_open |archive-date=2008-05-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> although they have historically ranged from eight to 13 weeks.<ref name="Malone">[https://www.jstor.org/pss/487322 Kemp Malone, '' 'Semester' '', American Speech, Dec. 1946, p. 264]</ref> Academic quarters first came into existence as such when William Rainey Harper organized the University of Chicago on behalf of John D. Rockefeller in 1891. Harper decided to keep the school in session year-round and divide it into four terms instead of the then-traditional two.<ref name="Malone" />
Of the four traditional academic calendars (semester, quarter, trimester, and 4-1-4), the semester calendar is used the most widely, at over 60% of U.S. higher learning institutions, with fewer than 20% using the quarter system.<ref name="Ad Hoc Report">[http://www.neu.edu/semesterinfo/Backgrounddocuments/calendar99.doc ''Report of the 1998-99'' ad hoc ''Calendar Committee'', Northeastern University, July 30, 1999]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> This number has stayed fairly constant since 1930, when 75% of U.S. institutions surveyed indicated they used a semester plan, with 22% on the quarter system.<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/pss/1974175 H.W. James, ''The Semester versus the Quarter'', Journal of Higher Education, Oct. 1930, p. 38]</ref>
During the 1960s, a number of U.S. state university systems made a switch from a semester to quarter system, typically in an attempt to accommodate the large number of post-war "baby boom" students who had reached college age (sometimes called the "Tidal Wave I enrollment boom").<ref>{{cite web |title=Ensuring Access with Quality to California's Community Colleges |url=http://www.highereducation.org/reports/hewlett/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221182647/http://www.highereducation.org/reports/hewlett/ |archive-date=21 February 2020 |access-date=7 March 2021 |website=The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lum |first1=Lydia |title=Too Fast, Too Furious? As community colleges grow in enrollment and appeal, some question their ability to serve disadvantaged students |url=https://diverseeducation.com/article/3726/ |website=Diverse Issues in Higher Education |date=2 June 2004 |access-date=7 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=University proposes master plan |url=http://thedailyaztec.com/21564/daily-aztec-stories/university-proposes-master-plan/ |website=The Daily Aztec |date=21 October 2004 |access-date=7 March 2021}}</ref> A prominent example of this trend was the University of California system, which moved to a quarter system in 1966.<ref name="Senate">[http://www.senate.ucla.edu/SenateVoice/Issue3/Debate_Semesters_Or_Quarters.htm ''Debate: Semesters or Quarters'', UCLA Faculty Senate Voice, Apr. 2003 (iss. 3)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221023451/http://www.senate.ucla.edu/SenateVoice/Issue3/Debate_Semesters_Or_Quarters.htm |date=February 21, 2008 }}</ref> Since then, UC Berkeley switched back to semesters in 1983,<ref>[http://www.today.ucla.edu/2002/021119semester.html Harlan Lebo, ''Semester vs. quarter?'', UCLA Today, 2002] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807141434/http://www.today.ucla.edu/2002/021119semester.html |date=August 7, 2008 }}</ref> the new UC Merced branch opened with the semester system, and some UC professional schools have switched back to semesters at various points.<ref name="Senate" /> In 2020, UC San Diego considered a switch to the semester system as well.<ref name=Robbins>{{cite news |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/story/2020-02-19/uc-san-diego-might-switch-from-quarter-to-semester-say-to-ease-stress-on-students |last=Robbins |first=Gary |title=UC San Diego might switch to semester system to ease stress on students |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=February 19, 2020 |access-date=February 20, 2020}}</ref> At various points since the 1960s, committees have been established and official discussions have taken place within the UC system to discuss a systemwide switch back to the semester system.<ref name="Senate" /><ref name="Nexus">[http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=13006 Chris Ziegler, ''Faculty Considers Switch from Quarter to Semester'', (University of California, Santa Barbara) Daily Nexus, Jan. 29, 1990 (reprinted Jan. 29, 2007)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080525104618/http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=13006 |date=May 25, 2008 }}</ref>
In recent years, a number of higher education institutions have considered or approved a switch to a semester system. The University System of Ohio, which includes Ohio State University, Ohio University, and the University of Cincinnati, converted to the semester system in 2012 to better align with other public and private institutions in the state, among other reasons.<ref name=Farkas>{{cite news |url=https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2012/05/state_universities_and_communi.html |title=State universities, community colleges switching from quarters to semesters |last=Farkas |first=Karen |date=May 30, 2012 |website=Cleveland.com |access-date=February 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>[http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/1451148/ou_ready_to_consider_switch_to_semesters/index.html Rich Rouan, ''OU Ready to Consider Switch to Semesters'', Columbus Dispatch, June 26, 2008]</ref><ref>[http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/04/28/daily17.html ''University of Cincinnati planning switch to semesters'', Business Courier of Cincinnati, Apr. 29, 2008]</ref> Individual schools have also switched, like Georgia Tech in 1999.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070804184752/http://gtalumni.org/news/ttopics/spr96/switch.html Hoyt Coffee, ''Regents Set Semester Switch'', Georgia Tech Alumni magazine, Spring 1996]</ref> Rochester Institute of Technology converted to semesters in Fall 2013, although the decision was highly controversial, overriding a student vote to remain with quarters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rit.edu/conversion/ |title=RIT Semester Conversion |access-date=2010-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725110043/http://www.rit.edu/conversion/ |archive-date=2010-07-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Johnson>{{cite journal |url=https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1P3-3472806021/transitioning-from-quarters-to-semesters-changes |title=Transitioning from Quarters to Semesters: Changes in College Students' Predicted and Perceived Motivation |journal=College and University |date=Summer 2014 |volume=89 |number=4 |last1=Kestler |first1=Jessica L. |last2=Johnson |first2=Marcus Lee |access-date=February 20, 2020}}</ref> Other institutions and systems that have switched include California State University, Los Angeles, Auburn University, the University of Minnesota system, the Utah State system, and Northeastern University.<ref name=Johnson /> Southern Oregon University was required to study a switch to the semester system as part of state legislation on a possible merger with the University of Oregon.<ref name=Darling>{{cite news |url=https://mailtribune.com/archive/sou-considers-switch-to-semesters |last=Darling |first=John |title=SOU considers switch to semesters |newspaper=Mail Tribune |date=June 4, 2010 |access-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-date=February 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221034410/https://mailtribune.com/archive/sou-considers-switch-to-semesters |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/2001/april/040301n2.htm |title=Tony Boom, ''SOU studies semester switch'', Mail-Tribune, Apr. 3, 2001 |access-date=2008-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171619/http://www.mailtribune.com/section/archive |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=OR-HB442>{{cite act | url = https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2009R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB442/Enrolled | title = Relating to university consolidation and declaring an emergency | legislature = Oregon Legislative Assembly | date = 2009 |type=Chapter | index = 801 | page = 1 |others=House Bill 442, section 1}}</ref>
===Arguments for=== Quarter systems allow students to enroll in a richer variety of courses and school-coordinated internships and may encourage students to take on double majors, minors, concentrations, and the like.<ref name="Ad Hoc Report" /> A quarter system can maximize the use of college facilities in a time of enrollment growth, as it allows for four regular periods of academic instruction.<ref>[http://www.english.ucla.edu/ucla1960s/6465/mohajeri3.htm Sarah Mohajeri, ''From Semesters to Quarters'', in ''UCLA in the sixties'', May 24, 2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912163700/http://www.english.ucla.edu/ucla1960s/6465/mohajeri3.htm |date=September 12, 2007 }}</ref> Also, quarters allow for faculty to engage in terms with a relatively light course load of teaching and greater opportunities for short sabbaticals.<ref name="Senate" />
=== Arguments against === Concerns over the quarter system include faculty dislike of the brevity of the term, the loss of faculty research and collaboration time, the end of the spring quarter overrunning the start date of many established summer internships which also leads to shorter internship periods, difficulties in recovering from illness-linked absence, and the heavy administrative workload.<ref name="Ad Hoc Report" /><ref name="Robbins" />
A quarter system calendar also may put schools at a disadvantage in competing for prospective students, who wish to keep in-step with friends, and offer more opportunities for students to "disconnect from school."<ref name="Ad Hoc Report" />
It can be difficult to transfer credits between semester institutions and quarter institutions, even when they are in the same state.<ref name="Robbins" />
===American universities on quarter system=== ==== California ==== * California Institute of Technology<ref>{{Cite web |last=AdmissionSight |date=2025-03-17 |title=The Caltech Academic Calendar: Key Dates + Tips |url=https://admissionsight.com/caltech-academic-calendar/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=AdmissionSight |language=en-US}}</ref> * California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (until fall 2026)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quarter System and Quarter Units |url=https://academicprograms.calpoly.edu/content/academicpolicies/quarters |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=Academic Programs and Planning |language=en}}</ref> * Loma Linda University * Pacific Union College * Santa Clara University * Stanford University * University of California - Eight of the ten University of California campuses are on a quarter system. However, the five law schools in the University of California (UC Berkeley School of Law,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024-2025 Academic Calendar |url=https://www.law.berkeley.edu/academics/current-academic-calendars/2024-2025-academic-calendar/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=UC Berkeley Law |language=en-US}}</ref> UC Davis School of Law,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scivoletto |first=Emily L. |date=2021-05-11 |title=Academic Calendar {{!}} School of Law |url=https://law.ucdavis.edu/academic-calendar |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=law.ucdavis.edu |language=en}}</ref> UCLA School of Law''','''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academic Calendar {{!}} UCLA Law |url=https://law.ucla.edu/academics/academic-calendar |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=law.ucla.edu |language=en}}</ref> UC Irvine Law,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academic Calendar {{!}} UCI Law |url=https://www.law.uci.edu/academics/academic-calendar/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=www.law.uci.edu}}</ref> and UC Law SF<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academic Calendar |url=https://www.uclawsf.edu/academics/academic-calendar/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings) |language=en-US}}</ref>) are on a semester system as is the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-09 |title=When Does Medical School Start? |url=https://medschool.ucla.edu/education/md-education/current-students/calendars |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=UCLA Medical School |language=en}}</ref> ** University of California, Davis ** University of California, Irvine ** University of California, Los Angeles ** University of California, Riverside ** University of California, San Diego ** University of California, San Francisco<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academic and Administrative Calendar {{!}} UC San Francisco |url=https://catalog.ucsf.edu/academic-administrative-calendar/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=catalog.ucsf.edu}}</ref> ** University of California, Santa Barbara ** University of California, Santa Cruz
==== Colorado ====
* University of Denver<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-03 |title=The Perks of DU's Quarter System {{!}} University of Denver |url=https://www.du.edu/news/perks-dus-quarter-system |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=www.du.edu |language=en}}</ref>
==== Georgia ====
* Savannah College of Art and Design<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prepare for life at SCAD |url=https://www.scad.edu/content/prepare-life-scad |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=SCAD.edu |language=en}}</ref>
==== Illinois ====
* DePaul University<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calendar {{!}} Admitted Students {{!}} College of Education {{!}} DePaul University, Chicago |url=https://education.depaul.edu/admit/Pages/calendar.aspx |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=education.depaul.edu}}</ref> * Northwestern University * University of Chicago
==== Indiana ====
* Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology
==== Louisiana ====
* Louisiana Tech University<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.latech.edu/about/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=www.latech.edu |language=en-US}}</ref>
==== Massachusetts ====
* Worcester Polytechnic Institute
==== Minnesota ====
* Carleton College<ref>{{Cite web |last=Office |first=Registrar’s |title=The Academic Term - Carleton College |url=https://www.carleton.edu/registrar/academic-term/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=www.carleton.edu |language=en-US}}</ref>
==== New Hampshire ====
==== New York ====
* Union College<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academic Calendar {{!}} Registrar {{!}} Union College |url=https://www.union.edu/registrar/academic-calendar |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=www.union.edu |language=en}}</ref>
==== Ohio ====
* Antioch College<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academic Calendar - 2025 - 2026 |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQP0A0kqy4NK1jL6pzhDeZXFcqJT3G-wnhQKHHYv8HXYK25IYVseditmuOz5G8nY13ft7qNffLA9OC6/pub |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=docs.google.com}}</ref>
==== Online ====
* Capella University<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Education Individual Courses {{!}} Capella University |url=https://www.capella.edu/individual-courses/arts-and-sciences/ |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=www.capella.edu}}</ref>
==== Oregon ==== * Eastern Oregon University * Oregon Health & Science University<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academic Calendar {{!}} OHSU |url=https://www.ohsu.edu/education/academic-calendar |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=www.ohsu.edu}}</ref> * Oregon Institute of Technology * Oregon State University * Portland State University * Southern Oregon University * University of Oregon
==== Rhode Island ====
* New England Institute of Technology
==== Pennsylvania ====
* Drexel University (until August 2027)
==== Washington ==== * Central Washington University
* Eastern Washington University * Evergreen State College * Seattle University * Seattle Pacific University * University of Washington **University of Washington Bothell<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dates of Instruction 2024-2025 |url=https://www.uwb.edu/academic-calendar/2024-2025-calendars/dates-of-instruction-2024-2025 |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=Academic Calendar |language=en-US}}</ref> **University of Washington Tacoma * Walla Walla University * Western Washington University
==== Wisconsin ====
* Milwaukee School of Engineering
==See also== * Academic term * Legal year
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Education policy