The University launched a pilot program Sunday to prevent students from rescheduling 1000- and 2000-level classes in which they have already earned a “C” or better.
Robert Doolos, University registrar, said University policy states undergraduate students can’t repeat a course in which they’ve earned a “C” or better unless the class can be repeated for credit.
Doolos said currently a report at the end of the semester is posted of students who repeated classes, and for the past 15 or 20 years the University has seen students repeating classes they shouldn’t but often couldn’t fix the issues until it was too late.
“We don’t want to tell students after the fact,” Doolos said.
Doolos said the new program will take effect for scheduling for the summer intersession, fall semester and winter intersession.
The current pilot program will only check 1000- and 2000-level classes, but upper level classes will be added to the program if it’s successful, Doolos said.
He said the program includes cross-listed classes.
Doolos said when students try to add classes in which they already earned a “C,” a message will appear on PAWS explaining why they can’t add the class and that they need to see someone in their college for assistance.
Doolos said some students repeat classes intentionally to boost their GPAs and others unintentionally repeat courses.
“Students trying to pad their GPA are keeping other students out,” Doolos said.
He said there are fewer sections for some courses, and the scheduling has become more difficult.
Doolos said deans requested the program to also keep students from re-enrolling in classes they currently take because they want to speak with the student to see why they aren’t successful in the class.
Doolos said counselors, associate deans and deans can make exceptions to the policy and enroll students in a class.
He said a problem the program could face is the response time when a student clicks the “add” button. The pilot program will have to be removed if it causes too much delay, Doolos said.
“We will see how it works and monitor it very carefully,” he said.
Doolos said the program was designed by the Information Technology Services and didn’t cost the University any extra money.
 
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Contact Celeste Ansley at [email protected]