David BrodyAs registration nears, Wash. U. students in the class of 2005 are wrangling with last-minute cluster requirements, finishing up remaining courses in their majors and voicing frustration with the recently changed requirements governing part-time status in their final semester.
This last semester is shaping up to be a full one for many seniors, with some students frustrated that they must take six credits to be considered part-time. In every semester except the final one, any student taking less than 12 credits is considered a part-time student and subsequently pays by the credit hour instead of full tuition rates. Administrators changed the number to six credits close to two years ago, and the option will be eliminated altogether beginning with the class of 2009.
Senior Annie Mancini plans to pursue volunteer and work activities next semester, and explained being a part-time student is the best way for her to save money and get practical work experience in the profession she plans to continue post-graduation.
“I hadn’t thought about being a full-time student until recently,” said Mancini. “It’s nice that I have that choice next semester.”
Other students who have finished all their requirements feel that it isn’t worth paying the money to take classes they don’t need to graduate. However, some students have had a difficult time finding the information they would need to go part-time, especially those who do not have a dean in the College of Arts & Sciences office serving as their adviser.
“The information about part-time student requirements is not well publicized,” said senior Erin Russell. “I had to go to the Arts & Sciences office to track down all the information.”
Jami Ake, assistant dean in the College of Arts & Sciences, could only think of one case this year in which she thought an advisee would be best served by becoming a part-time student: the student was paying her way through school and managing a full-time job. Ake noted that students should look for a part-time status for the right reasons and not just to have a lighter load.
“You would be missing out on the opportunity to tie everything together in the final semester and have a capstone experience,” said Ake.
Finishing the new cluster requirements is one thing that does not seem to be stopping students from going part-time. As the first class to graduate under the revised curriculum, many seniors have found the clusters are not the problem they feared they would be-most have finished their courses far in advance of the final semester.
Assistant dean Jennifer Romney noted that not clusters, but the 120 credits that are needed to graduate, are keeping some students from pursuing the part-time path in the spring.
“One of the main things that prevents students from going part-time is the need to meet 120 credits or that they must finish up classes for major requirements,” said Romney.
Russell was never concerned about the clusters impeding her progress.
“I was a peer adviser so I understand the curriculum and clusters well,” said Russell. “I basically finished everything by the end of sophomore year.”
Other students have not found themselves as lucky, as they still have plans to take writing-intensive courses or finish up an odd class remaining for a cluster. Transfer students expressed concern that the University’s curriculum puts them at a disadvantage.
“There were things I took before at my previous school and didn’t count for anything here except credit hours,” said senior Beth Freund, who transferred to the University and has a few clusters to finish in her final semester.