HOUSTON – March 27, 2007 - Houston Baptist University, which has operated on a quarter calendar since 1973, will move to a semester calendar beginning in the fall of 2008. The decision was made after several months of extensive study and was based on a unanimous recommendation from the University’s Institutional Strategic Planning Committee (ISPC). President Robert Sloan announced the decision at a February 14 University Forum.

The study was initiated as a result of a series of listening sessions for faculty, staff, students and alumni held by Sloan shortly after he arrived on campus.

“Time and again I heard comments about the quarter calendar versus the semester calendar during those sessions,” Sloan said. “That indicated we had enough of an interest across campus to at least explore the issue. It had to be a decision that was in the best interest of our students and the University.”

The process included a Quarter/Semester Calendar Impact Study involving faculty, staff, students and alumni, which focused on the change from four perspectives – academics, enrollment management, student/alumni impact, and administrative issues. Student forums were held to listen to student issues.

The study determined a number of positive aspects of the calendar change. Opportunities for in-depth study, expanded extracurricular and internship opportunities, more time for student involvement, increased opportunities for study abroad, easier transitions for transfer students, and reduced processing for registration and financial aid were among the benefits cited.

Planning for the transition will begin immediately. As part of the process, extensive advising and academic counseling processes will be implemented to meet the needs of current students regarding issues such as degree programs, degree completion requirements and graduation. Initial campus-wide and college-based meetings with current students have already begun.

“We will take care of our students throughout this process,” Sloan said. “They are our main concern. We want to work closely with them to ensure that their expected graduation dates are not impacted by this conversion process.”

Edgar Gonzalez, president, Student Government Association said the transition into the semester system will require work among students, faculty and administration, but the long-term benefits outweigh the hardships that will be experienced in the next few years. “Once incoming classes start in the semester system, they will experience very few problems. As long as the students remain positive to the change and the faculty and administration help accommodate the students in the transition both academically and financially, the transition will be smooth. The benefits as far as student life and academic opportunities will be significant, which will make the HBU experience more valuable.”

“I am very excited that HBU is changing from the quarter to the semester calendar,” said Dr. Doris Warren, dean, College of Science and Mathematics. “Over the years HBU faculty have come to believe, as faculty in many universities across the country have, that the semester calendar offers an enhanced learning environment for our students. We will be able to offer more opportunities to enrich our curricula and design ways for our students to take advantage of the many professional opportunities available in Houston. This is an important next step in our 21st century vision of HBU as a prestigious university.”

For more information, visit the HBU Web site at www.hbu.edu/semesterconversion.

About Houston Baptist University

Houston Baptist University is an independent university located on the southwest side of Houston offering fully accredited academic programs in more than 40 undergraduate majors. The university gives the personal experience of a Christian college in one of the nation’s most dynamic and energetic cites. HBU has been ranked in the top tier among the “Best Universities” offering master’s degrees in the Western region by U.S. News & World Report in its America’s Best Colleges for 2007 edition.