The Four Year College Plan Takes a Downfall
Graduating in four years may be unrealistic expectation at the University of Nevada and a goal that few students reach. Students become victims of few course offerings and outside pressures that affect their ability to graduate in a fair amount of time. Rebecca Inserra, 21, is less than optimistic about the University’s class schedule.
“Because of so few sections of some classes it will realistically take me at least five years to graduate,” Inserra said.
Ronna Liggett, UNR communications professor and academic adviser, thinks that it is unrealistic for a student to graduate in four years.
“If a person chooses their career path early hopefully they will get out of here in five years,” Liggett said. Some classes are only offered at certain times during the year making it difficult for students to get the classes they need in the order that they need them.
“The university isn’t just a totally open cafeteria,” Liggett said. “Sometime the student has to just go with the flow.
Robert Waite, 23 year old student, thinks that there are more factors than just the lack of course offering that affect a student’s academic career.
“With the downfall of the economy people are struggling to get jobs to support themselves through school,” Waite said. A good deal of students hold down what part and full time jobs that they can but many have a difficult time doing both.”
Sarah Henderson, senior art major, is frustrated with the university’s academic program. “My biggest problem is not being able to get into classes that should be offered but aren’t because there isn’t enough money in the school,” Henderson said.
Stephani Foust, UNR admissions and recruitment coordinator, disagrees about the idea of the four year academic career.
“If a student takes the full load of a minimum of 15 credits per semester, summer school and possibly wintermester, they could absolutely graduate in four years,” Foust said.
Students also run into trouble when they change majors or concentrations at UNR.
“When you change majors naturally you are going to lose a semester or two,” Liggett said. “I think it is unrealistic for an 18 year old to know his or her major and not change in the next four years when that is the most flexible time in our life for change.”
