The Associated Press published a rather sobering
article about how college budget cuts are making it harder for students to graduate. In addition to raising tuitions, many schools have been forced to lay off instructors and trim their course offerings, requiring some students to stick around an extra semester (or longer) to fulfill their degrees. Public schools are being hit especially hard, as state budget cuts affect their funds directly.
The AP followed a student at San Francisco State University, who tried to gain admittance into any of 26 overfilled courses. The student was unsuccessful, and is now taking only two courses this semester. At San Francisco State, the article described groups of students listening to lectures in the doorways of classrooms, so that, on the off chance that they were admitted, they wouldn't be too far behind.
The smaller course offerings mean fewer entry-level and general education classes, as well eliminated higher-level classes that upperclassmen need to graduate. It can be particularly troubling for majors who have to take certain courses in sequence, or students whose financial aid requires a minimum course-load, or is only set to last for four years.
Some schools have increased class sizes in an attempt to counterbalance the cuts to classes, including the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the University of Kansas, and colleges in the Cal State system.
I think colleges should temporarily relax their standards about prerequisites and sequenced classes, whenever possible, to give fledgling students more options. And financial aid providers should support students as long as they can, given the extenuating circumstances.
Do you know anyone affected by restricted course offerings? What do you think colleges should do to help students graduate?
Comments (5)
My school has actually had to make the College of Chemical and Life Sciences a limited enrollment program because they're so many applicants and not enough money in the budget.
With rumors of tuition increases and decreases in financial aid, I don't see how any colleges expect their students to cope. They should think about cutting frivolous things out of the budget instead of loading their budget problems on students' backs.
I know paying for college is already basically impossible, but it does seem like students should either find ways to cope with the class cutbacks or be ready to pay for the true cost of their education- which is significantly higher than what they have been paying. However, I do think the schools need to loosen their standards a bit (offer alternative courses, independent study, etc) to allow current students to graduate in a reasonable period of time.
I know a lot of students who were planning on taking summer classes to finish up their degree. Then summer school got cut so they had to come back in fall to finish up classes costing them more money. Always aim to be done in Spring!
@Reiskytl_rules@xanga - The article did mention one girl whose college said she could finish her degree with independent study since the classes she needed to take were being cut. She was disappointed, though. I mean, most students go to college to be taught my professors, not learn on their own. I could understand her feelings, but I guess for some students it might be okay.
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