Discounted Dreams Discussion Question
Author: WKCTCASPList the obstacles that students might encounter at WKCTC.
Academic Support Program Blog
This blog has been created for students, faculty and staff. Please feel free to give reviews of the Academic Support Program. We want to make sure all individuals have a voice at WKCTC. Please see the Blog Etiquette below if you have any questions about the content of your comment.Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion in the comments section.
1. Class Shortage
2. Switch degrees multiple times.
3. Taking the Compass as soon as they set foot on campus which could cause problems.
4. Receiving information on classes that might be incorrect,therefore, causing the student to attend WKCTC longer than needed or getting angry and quitting.
5. Being that we have an open campus we get a lot of students who have been forced to attend college. Being that they are not ready to attend college they are a drain on the class and/or teacher. This in turn causes a lot of problems for many of the departments on campus.
1. Entrance requirements or procedure upon filling out the application.
2. Money to pay tuition without financial assistance. Based on their cost of living as compared to income.
3. Teachers that feel it is the student responsibility and not theirs to help them.
We are all about students - we offer classes, collect their tuition to pay our salary, know them in the community, are related to some - regardless of who they are we should all WANT to teach and help them in any way we are able.
1. Testing (many questions about COMPASS here).
2. Tuition (being "frozen" at levels which admittedly caused problems didn't solve anything. Now, budget woes will worsen this situation).
3. Transfer (Still no single system in KY).
Obstacles that one does encounter because I have witnessed many of these by students.....is being told that one can finish a program(like one in AH) within a year or two and it not be a realistic achievement for that student. Many students are full time workers and mothers/fathers and students and to be told you can finish and get your degree in a year or two (provided you pass all the listed courses with good grades on the first try)is for many of these people an unachievable goal that makes them angry that they have "wasted money", missed their "entrance date", and have to retake some courses to even start the program or restart the program. many just don't come back becasue life requires money and they can't afford to "keep trying" when they were not asked about their life load and advsied the first tme. they were only told here are the classes you need for this program and if you do that then you can get done in such and such time - not what does your life consist of?? are you working full time? D o you have a family to support as well? Are you trying to do all that and go full time as a student? If so, then.. maybe you need only one class a semester and to be honest, it will probably take you longer than a year or two to complete.
I agree with dmarvin, one of the most important aspects, to me, is getting the right guidance (advising) - which classes to take, etc.
One obstacle that I found out last semester was that you can't add a class that has already met. Which created huge problems for me since I didn't know this the first day of school. I went to my first period class found out it was nothing that I had expected and it was going to cost me hundreds of dollars and time I didn't have to be in it. I couldn't just drop the class because of the fact that I had to have 12 hours to keep my insurance. I know it's ridiculas for a person to add a class 3 weeks in, but most of the time the first day of classes consist of going over the syllabus, with that said I don't see the problem in allowing people to add a class that has met only one time. The second day is usually when the real classwork begins anyhow. Although I made it through last semester it was alot of stress that could have been relieved. If others would have been in my situation it could have gotten ugly because of the fact that I learned to deal with the class saving money at every opportunity. Some wouldn't have had any money to spare. I believe this policy should be changed to something a little more reasonable.
I agree 100percent. I had a class and being new wasn't sure about it, emailed several times only to find out they had switched teachers and classes so I missed the first day then after being on the schedule for 2 weeks finally got ahold of someone only to find out they had already met the first day and now I've lost that class and needed it to keep everything in order for a certain program. Now, it will take another semester and another year.
Getting "lucky" on the math portion of the compass and testing in at a level that is actually higher than what a student should be.
In response to the posting on not allowing students to enroll in a class that has already met. It was agreed that if the student met with the faculty member whose class they wished to enroll in, and that faculty approved the student could enroll in the course. This had to happen on the first day of class but I know faculty who have approved and students were able to switch their courses. It migh also be helpful if students remember to reaad the course description of the course in the catalog.
why post anonymous,u cant be scared all your life,quit whining
The reason to not allow students to enter courses that had already met was to remove the feeling that the first class was intended for the syllabus and no teaching.
Advising should be taking place prior to any drop/add days so that the student is aware of the courses and their schedule in advance of the first day. Students should come to that class prepared on the first day.
Sometimes decisions are made to alleviate one problem and they create others. This may have been one of those instances, but the reality for the college is that it cut down on last minute advising for students who simply did not like the teacher they were going to have or waited until the last minute to make a decision.
Overall I have had a good experience at WKCTCS. The only thing I didnt like was the fact that I signed up for a class, and when class came I had a different teacher than expected, and actually 2 classes have had the time changed on them. I have 5 children at home, and have to plan ahead for things. I have to work hard to get people lined out to care for my children while Im at school. I pick some classes because of their times and really dislike them being changed at the last minute because of I thought silly reasons.