Spring Class Shortages

jsmith86

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2006
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Cedar Rapids
I was wondering if anyone has had trouble getting into all the classes they need for the spring. I know that many of the departments have responded to budget cuts by cutting sections, even as enrollment is rising. My brother, who is a freshman in engineering, had trouble finding a section of physics 221 to take. :wideeyed:. I've heard the same thing from other people about chemistry courses. And some classes have cut recitation sections altogether. cough, chem 332, cough cough... Being a 5th year senior, I didn't have any trouble getting into the classes I need, but had I had to wait even half an hour, I would have. I know the my department only had 2 sections of senior lab open with 20 seats in each, and we're supposed to have around 80 people graduating in the spring, all of whom haven't taken the lab. (and yes, for those of you who are ChemE's, I know there are some people who took it in spain and over the summer, but there are about that many who still have to take the class.) So to get back to the question at hand, any trouble getting the classes you need?
 
Well, if you are just now trying to schedule your classes your going to have some trouble. What you should do now is schedule a class you would be interested in for a elective and go see your advisor. Many times a spot will open in a class the first week and then you can drop the elective and grab up that spot, but just in case you want to make sure it is a elective you will enjoy. Also your advisor can schedule you into a class sometimes even if the class is closed in AccessPlus so I would schedule a meeting with him/her as soon as possible.

Also, I thought 5 years was typical for Engineering?
 
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Don't get me started on ISU scheduling...Do get me started on the ME advising dept, as they've generally been helpful.
 
I ran into the problem this semester that they had sections listed but they didn't open them up until the others were full. What's the point of getting to register early as a senior if the classes you want are not open yet? It's just frustrating to have to check accessplus every hour for two days to get the classes you want.
 
the chem e advisor i dealt with was really nice, even got me into a full learning community right on the spot.
 
I'm not saying they aren't nice, just that in many departments there seem to be fewer and fewer classes and sections offered.
 
I'm not saying they aren't nice, just that in many departments there seem to be fewer and fewer classes and sections offered.

Can anyone say, "state budget cuts?"
 
It's interesting reading through the posts, because I graduated in '94 and not much has changed. So, it's not a new phenomena. Some classes/sections are tight.

Back in the days of stonehenge when I was still a student... I had good luck working with the professor getting into a class I needed - and in one instance my advisor got me out of one class I needed in my last semester. Because of scheduling issues, I substituted something else for it. I can't remember exactly what class I needed or what we substituted, but I do remember it got me out of a class I was really NOT looking forward to, and got me into something more tolerable.
 
yeah i was upset this semester because I couldn't get into any of my department required classes, like the stupid gen eds for your specific program. Not a single one of them was offered this semester. I don't see how they are getting away with this. So help me God if it causes to be here one more year.
 
Yeah. Some reason one of my lecture has more slots than the accompanying lab. Messes up time line for med school application etc.
 
I am a returning student getting a second degree and am one of the first to register because of all the credits I have. It didn't help me when they don't offer the courses :-)

The one class they did offer conflicted directly with another required course. Both were only classes for El Ed majors, seems stupid to me to offer the two required classes at the same time and both needing to be taken during your junior year in the program.
 
yeah i was upset this semester because I couldn't get into any of my department required classes, like the stupid gen eds for your specific program. Not a single one of them was offered this semester. I don't see how they are getting away with this. So help me God if it causes to be here one more year.

There are massive cuts in state funding, and lots of people are losing their jobs. Less professors/TA's = fewer classes overall. There's not a lot they can do when their funding is gone.
 
There are massive cuts in state funding, and lots of people are losing their jobs. Less professors/TA's = fewer classes overall. There's not a lot they can do when their funding is gone.

Yep it stinks but that's the reality of it.
 
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