Katie Clay-Wakefield, a psychology senior, said she wanted to kill someone. The psychology senior usually is not a violent person, but that is just the way she felt after her courses were “unjustly purged.”
Many students face the same problems every semester with their schedules. Sometimes even graduating seniors cannot get into classes they need in order to graduate.
College deans and counselors have different advice for students with scheduling headaches.
Associate Dean J. Marcos Fernandez of the College of Agriculture said students should not put off required or prerequisite courses until the last year. Students who get their required courses out of the way early can avoid problems, he said.
The College of Agriculture tries to make an effort to fill their students’ needs. Fernandez said students needing a class first should contact the instructor and notify him or her of their situation. Sometimes this approach works, but Fernandez said not all teachers will let students into a class.
The second step students should take is informing the head of their department of their situation. The department cannot fix the problems unless it is aware of them, Fernandez said.
The E.J. Ourso College of Business Administration also is making efforts to ensure graduating seniors have the classes they need to graduate. The day after the last drop day, counselors pull all records of graduating seniors to make sure they are in the classes they need in order to graduate.
Business Assistant Dean Robert Hines said students should contact the department with which they are having problems. For example, if students cannot get into an accounting class they need, they should talk to the accounting department within the College of Business.
Fernandez said many students are not aware they can talk to their adviser about their situation and take a substitution course that is approved by the dean in place of the required course.
Depending on the department, some students will be allowed to make a substitution in place of a required course, Hines said.
Each college has its own policy regarding the placement of graduating seniors in required classes, but graduating seniors also have first priority when scheduling.
“If students registered during their priority time they wouldn’t have any problems,” said Theresa Mooney, academic counselor at the College of Art and Design. However, if students miss their priority and cannot get into a class, they should contact the instructor and continue trying to get into the class.
Nevertheless, many students are frustrated with their schedules.
“They should make more sections in classes when enough students request to be in them,” said Megan Taflinger, a political science freshman.
Funding is not available for more sections, Hines said. In order to make more sections available, the college must find another teacher who meets the requirements needed for the course. The search can be difficult and costly, he said.
Class size also can affect the number of students unable to get into classes. Some teachers can manipulate the size of their classes in order to get more students in the class.
Hines said class size is determined by the fire marshal because there are only so many students who can fit in a class before it becomes a fire hazard. While instructors can determine class size, the fire marshal has the final decision.
Maggie Lalande, an ISDS sophomore, said her classes are spread too far apart. Fernandez said he discourages students from taking classes back-to-back as long as breaks are not long.
Mooney said students should find another section and try to adjust their schedules. The majority of courses are offered between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., so students have many time slots to select from in order to fit a class into their schedule.
Another problem students can encounter is being unable to register for a required course for their minor.
Students who do not declare minors to their colleges can have trouble getting into required courses. Mooney said students having difficulties first should make sure they have declared their minor to their college.
Location of classes also can be an issue for students. Some may walk just a few minutes to class, while others may have to run across campus.
Sarah Barton, a psychology junior, said she gets blisters on her feet from walking to classes and the parking lot. Fernandez said if enough students request to have the class moved to a different location, then the department within the College of Agriculture will try to move it.
Students also are encouraged to look on their PAWS accounts to make sure the location of their class has not changed. Some instructors notify their students by e-mail or by posting a notice on the door of the previous location.
Instructors are not required to notify students of a location change, therefore students should not rely on the schedule mailed to them with their fee bills. If a student does show up for a class that has changed location without notice, they should call the department to check the location.
Correspondence courses also can be a solution to scheduling problems, Hines said, but some colleges restrict their students from taking them while enrolled in other courses.
Clay-Wakefield finally did get into her classes despite the miscommunication. Because she contacted the psychology department and instructor, she hopefully will be able to graduate on time.