Registering for classes at 6 a.m. may seem a littleobsessive-compulsive, but it's the only way many University ofMemphis students will ensure they have a seat in necessary springcourses, U of M academic officials said Wednesday.
"Anybody who doesn't pre-register right away this semester isjust asking for trouble," said James Redmond, journalism departmentchair. "The business where (students) think they can just waltz inhere in January and get the classes they need -- that's not goingto happen."
While late-registering students may be able to get into somecourses, Redmond said, many necessary general education courseswould likely be impossible to get into for students who wait untilDecember or January.
Because the State of Tennessee significantly lowered taxpayerappropriations to higher education as part of its efforts tobalance an already tight budget, many institutions like The U of Mhave had to cut back on the number of courses offered to studentsand the number of adjunct professors they are able to keep on theirpayrolls.
In addition, this year's tuition increase was not enough toprevent more cuts. And because The U of M has already cutnon-academic programs to the bone, the administration was left withlittle choice but to reduce funding to its academic programs,officials said.
As a result, many U of M academic departments have had to cutmultiple general education course sections -- the classes with theleast effect on students approaching graduation.
"General education courses have been cut drastically," saidJames Jackson, art department chair. "But we have tried to protectour majors as much as possible."
Jackson said the cuts are hitting the spring semester hardestbecause the art department, like most other departments, was notnotified until after the start of the fall semester exactly how thecuts would be imposed.
"We anticipated there would be some cuts," Jackson said. "We didnot know how much (the department) would be cut and when it wouldbe cut."
The art department had to cut 50 percent of its part timefaculty budget, which translated to fewer courses and fewer adjunctprofessors this spring. Despite these cuts, Jackson said, hispriority was to ensure students planning to graduate in the springwould have a chance to take necessary courses.
"We're going to be able to meet the needs of our majors," hesaid. "There are fewer sections offered for some courses, so weraised the class size in some classes as a temporary measure."
In the journalism department, there is a waiting list fornon-journalism majors to get into some courses required for othermajors.
Although cutting back on the number of general educationsections does not heavily affect upper classmen, it does cause aproblem for freshmen and sophomores, Redmond said.
"Sure, it may mean some students will have to graduate asemester or two later," he said. "Because there is no more fat tocut, these cuts are going to the bone and meat of the educationanimal."
Redmond said summer course sections are also being cut, meaningthose students planning to graduate in August will likely have topush that date back to December or even spring 2005.
Although most department heads said they are doing what they canto shield students -- especially upper classmen -- from feeling thebrunt of these cuts, the responsibility for getting into necessarycourses still remains with the student.
"If you want to come in January to get advised and registered,good luck," Redmond said. "It's just not going to happen."
