After learning the class he needed to complete his graduation requirements would not be offered this semester, exercise and sports management major Richard Gilliam expected to delay his graduation until this summer.
Last week, however, he found out the course will not be offered until the fall. Now, he’ll have to wait until then to graduate.
Although officials said graduation prolongation due to unavailable courses is not a trend at The University of Memphis, it can be severe for those in this situation.
However, students can avoid this dilemma by maintaining a close relationship with their advisors and through advance course planning.
“If they work very closely with their academic advisor, their advisor can tell them what are Fall courses and what are Spring courses,” said Laurie Snyder, academic advisor for the College of Communications and Fine Arts.
Snyder said students should consult with their advisor on a regular basis and meet with him or her at least a year before graduation to make sure The University plans to offer the remaining courses needed to graduate.
“The most important thing a student can do when planning their degree is meet with their academic advisor,” Snyder said.
Students can also check The University course catalog, which states whether classes are offered every semester or only in the Fall or Spring.
Each department has an online degree planner that recommends what sequence and semester students should take courses.
William Segui, chairman of the Civil Engineering Department, said he doesn’t get many complaints from students about unavailable courses.
Segui said his department publicizes any changes to course schedules in advance and arranges them to accommodate students.
Students can make substitutions for some classes that are not offered due to unavailable faculty or course cancellation, but the dean of the department must approve the change.
“The department usually works with students to make substitutions,” said Charles Bray, associate dean of the College of Engineering.
Snyder said budget cuts would not have a large effect on the number of upper divisions courses offered because full-time professors teach them.
“I get more of a problem from students not graduating because they fail the prerequisites,” she said.
