By Nicholas Negron
Staff Writer
Many students have complained about the length of the add/drop period. Between semesters students are constantly checking course listings to see if classes remain filled to capacity. The first week of school is often a frenzy in the registrar’s office. Some students are pleased with the courses they will be taking. Others plan to switch out of every class they are registered for, hoping a class in their major opens.
The College of Saint Rose has an add/drop period of one week. This is similar in most colleges throughout America. After the week is over students have the option of withdrawing from a course. The difference between the two is that a withdrawal stays on your transcript, while dropping a class does not. If a student chooses to stay in a class he/she can take it pass/fail.
What stops most students from taking a course pass/fail is that eligibility for the Dean’s List is taken away. That was my own case in the Spring 2014 semester. I found my math class extremely difficult. Despite seeking extra help, my grades were slipping. The add/drop period passed, and I had already purchased a rather expensive book from the bookstore. All my time and attention was being given to this course, instead of being equally shared with my other classes. I eventually decided to withdraw from the class one month into school. I was then able to maintain focus on my other classes, achieving the Dean’s List at the end of the semester. I do not regret withdrawing from the course because it would have collectively brought down my GPA more than a withdrawal did. I would have liked to see the syllabus before the classes began, to understand what I was getting myself into.
“I think the add and drop period shouldn’t be any longer because if someone drops a class [further than a week into the semester], they would be extremely far behind in the new one [class] they register for,” responded freshman Keith DiGeorgio about his feelings toward the add/drop period.
Sophomore Taylor Holliman had an opposing opinion. “The add/drop period is way too short,” says Holliman. “We’re in class with too much pressure to see if we actually like it or not. Teachers should have to put their syllabus online so we can see if we want to take it before we enroll.”
In different colleges, syllabi for all class offerings are made available for students to read before selecting their classes for the next semester. A syllabus typically gives better insight to the class objectives. This is as opposed to the small course summary given to students at Saint Rose while choosing courses for the next semester. Freshmen are given a paper in the mail with liberal education courses, and are asked to select which classes they would like to take. Typically a first-semester freshman takes four liberal education courses and one introductory course to a field of his or her interest or major.
“I did feel blindsided because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” said Keith DiGeorgio, about his first experience choosing college courses.
Freshmen can choose to enroll at Saint Rose undeclared, or without a major. There is the American City program on campus for freshmen planning on majoring in 16 different disciplines, or who are simply undeclared. Should this be made mandatory for every freshman?
Collegeparents.org reports that certain studies show 80 percent of students changing their major at least once throughout their time in college. Should freshman be required to solely take liberal education courses in their first year?
Then the question of AP credits arises. If students come into Saint Rose with virtually all of their liberal education requirements done, why should they not be allowed to take courses in their major? There are other Saint Rose requirements such as ENG 105, a writing intensive course, or diversity requirements. However, AP credits earned from high school can lead to graduating early from college.
Part-time students at Saint Rose pay $932 per credit. If students realize they would rather be in a different class nine days into the semester, they have lost $2796 (considering it to be a three-credit class). Why deny somebody the extra money they will save from graduating early? It is a tricky subject.
Can Saint Rose afford to make the add/drop period two weeks? A study can be done on how other universities handle this. However, half the issue would be solved if syllabi were posted online before advisement day.
