Samantha Turcotte
Equinox Staff
The norm for students to graduate from an undergraduate program has always been four years, but today, students seem to be faced with barriers that make this less likely.
Whether it be a student with a full time job who only has time for 12 credits per semester or a junior who decides to add another major late in their academic career, students are faced with challenges which make this academic norm less likely.
With the new Keene State College policy of a fee for taking over 18 credits per semester, students are faced with yet another roadblock in the road to timely graduation.
Scott Riess, a senior who is wrapping up his dual major of English and education, finds conflict with the new charge of 20 credits per semester.
As a student who has studied abroad and due to that fact had to take 20 credits in a semester in order to be on schedule with his class’ graduation time, Riess notes how this new fee could impact the potential experiences students have in their time here.
Riess said, “Last semester I took 20 credits because I had gone on a semester abroad the previous semester and the only way I could graduate on time was to take six classes, two of them worth two credits,” he continued, “Do we really want students who are afraid to do a semester abroad and are stuck here [due to not graduating on time]?”
As a student who likes to challenge himself academically, Riess feared that this new charge will discourage other students from doing the same.
Riess said, “Students who want to challenge themselves and take five classes won’t have the opportunity [without paying the extra fee]… do we want above-average students who are not challenged because they can’t take more than the standard load?”
Joe Gallo, a junior and a graphic design major, said he is considering adding a minor.
He said that this new fee to take twenty credits will influence his decision to add the minor or not because of the possibility of not graduating in four years.
Yet, he is still optimistic that students will accept the extra fee if they are determined to graduate.
Gallo said, “I think that most people will still pay the extra charge [for 20 credits] but it could affect their decision to dual major or add a minor because of cost or time constraints.”
Tom Richards, registrar at KSC, said his role is to “deal with students rather than the school’s budget,” explained what this change will actually be, and when it will be occurring.
Richards said, “Spring 2013 is under review so it is not a sure thing for the spring [but] students will now be charged for credits that they are registered for beyond 18 credits.”
Richards is optimistic that this change shouldn’t impact most students negatively.
He said, “Students’ choice of which major at what time certainly determines if you can finish on time… for most majors there is no reason for students to have to take more than 16 credits per semester.”
Dealing with the issue of taking 20 credits per semester versus an extra year, Richards said the former is the more practical, regardless of the extra fee.
Though the school will be charging students for the 20 credits, they are trying to help us out.
According to Richards, “If you take 20 credits per semester, you will be charged for the extra two credits but in-state tuition… on the one hand they’re taking more from you [the two credits] but they’re making an effort.” Richards said the amount of students that graduate in four years is around half.
He says that some people forget 12 credits is what is needed to be taken to be considered a full time student, while 16 credits is what is usually needed to graduate in four years. He said, “We have students who can only do 12 credits because they’re employed full time.”
Richards said that “the key is really paying attention” to being on track for your major and graduating in the four years.
Provost Melinda Treadwell explained that this new fee will not necessarily be a negative change; she along with the faculty have the students’ best interest in mind.
Treadwell said, “We want students to take 16 credits [per semester] to go deeper in those courses…have more time to do research, creative things, interact in the community.”
Regarding dual majors, or those with minors, the provost recognizes the pressure this new fee may have on students.
Alongside the faculty, Treadwell said she is working to make sure all majors’ four year plans are clear of “administrative barriers,” such as clearly defined prerequisites for courses and availability in significant major courses.
Another way Treadwell is trying to help KSC students with this new policy is by helping those who choose a major such as education, that requires another major or in another other situation where a dual major is not elective.
On this matter of students who may need 20 credits per semester due to the required dual major, Treadwell said, “I’m looking at [the possiblity of] waivers or a fee reduction where we require that.”
Samantha Turcotte can be contacted at
sturcotte@keene-equinox.com