I consider myself a relatively smart person, although I do have my moments sometimes. But recently the Faculty Senate passed a resolution changing the requirements for the Dean’s List from 12 hours, full-time status mind you, to 15 hours.
There are several good arguments for both sides of the issue, and the new rule doesn’t go into effect until the fall of 2004.
But if the new requirements were in effect today, it would definitely not be good for me.
Even if I do make a 4.0 GPA in my really hard classes this semester, I still wouldn’t get on the Dean’s List.
I’m taking 15 hours, but one of those classes is an independent study class, which does not count toward the total.
Coincidentally enough, that class is the hardest class that requires the most work that I have out of the total 15.
The next few semesters I’ll be a senior and will only be taking 12 hours because I ran out of credits to take.
I’m trying to stretch my graduation date out a semester so I can fully prepare a proper honors college thesis.
So, I’ve worked hard for the past few years and will not be able to be rewarded once I really start to do well.
Nevertheless, I do see the other side of things.
With attempts to further the school’s flagship status, I can see how a more stringent requirement for academic excellence can motivate people to take more classes, do better and graduate on time.
If a first semester freshman starts out with 12 hours and continues to take the “full-time” 12, that person will not graduate in four years, thus putting some people into financial trouble given that TOPS only lasts four years, or eight semesters.
Some will argue that the increased requirements will make the list more prestigious and boost the image of the university. Good point.
However, there are those poor aspiring doctors and those seeking technical degrees that suffer through lab classes, spending more than 15 hours per week in class but not getting 15 hours of credit.
I must say it’s not fair for them. I was a biology major once and lab classes were the bain of my existence.
Another group the increase is unfair toward is those who are not privileged enough to just go to school and not have to worry about having a job to sustain themselves.
Also with many degrees, such as journalism — in my personal experience — it is extremely hard to maintain 15 hours and keep a full-time position in some media outlet to gain experience.
In many cases and degrees, grades are not the most important thing and experience is required.
But for those of us who want experience and good grades, knocking down the course load is the only way to stay above a 3.5 GPA, because we still have to have good grades to get into graduate school.
Some could say this would be yet another obstacle for students who have been disadvantaged from the start, having to maintain a job or multiple jobs, thus having even a harder time gaining prestige and academic excellence.
Nevertheless, being on the Dean’s List doesn’t make or break a career and the people who really want to be on it will conform to the requirements. Like anything at a university and especially LSU, people’s education is what they make it. If a person puts a lot into their education, they will get a lot out of it. If not, then they won’t.
The only problem I have with the change in requirement is the inherent problem it causes for people who are bright students but have lab classes or need experience to be successful later on in life.
I guess this is just a part of a changing flagship university. The students of LSU are going to learn how to adapt.