Scheduling Issues: How to Deal

[Comment Below]

By Colleen McKinney

With budget cuts already taking a toll on LSU and as more cuts loom ahead, sometimes students take the brunt of these financial hardships in the form of scheduling. If not enough sections are being offered one semester or if a required class isn't being offered because of lack of funding, students have to navigate around their degree audit. This forces some students to fall behind a semester or two in their graduation plans.

So how should you, a student, try to combat this? TOPS and most scholarships only last for four years of college, so unless you are financially capable of paying beyond that or are comfortable with amassing loan debt, it might be a good thing to try to adhere to a degree path. Changing majors or even concentrations can set you back one year or longer. So, keep that in mind when declaring one or the other.

But what if you have been doing everything right? Following the degree path set by the department to the "T," but you are still falling behind? Patricia Beste, senior associate registrar, provided advice about this trend.

When asked if any students have complained about not enough classes or sections so far this scheduling season, she said that she hasn't heard of any student coming to the registrar's office. Beste emphasized that students need to "follow the prerequisites of their major" to avoid falling a semester or more behind. She also pointed out that any issues with scheduling should be brought to the attention of LSU or the student's department.

"We don't decide what's being taught at a certain semester or time," Beste said. "The departments decide what is taught, and we try to find a room that best fits the class size." The Registrar's office gives any department the option of changing class time or size if there is ever a conflict that arises from number of open seats in a class.

Sometimes, scheduling issues are at no fault to the student. Some major programs are set up specifically and deliberately, that not taking one class during one semester affects the rest of a student's college career. Jordan Novelli, apparel design major with the College of Human Ecology, has had scheduling issues due to her major, which have affected her graduation date.

"The way my major is set up, the small number of classes available each semester has pushed my graduation date a year. Every single design class is in order, and you can't take one before the other. They start in the spring and continue in the fall," Novelli said. "So, if you don't take one in the spring, you have to wait a full year to take it. Also, if you miss the class in the fall, you have to wait a whole year, too. Normally, the department has to open up more sections of a class, because class size is limited to the number of sewing machines or mannequins available."

Having your own scheduling dilemmas? Contact your major's department. You might get a "tough luck, budget cuts," but hey, it can't hurt to ask.

Originally Published: Issue 822 - November 4, 2009

Share on Facebook

Back to the top