Module Choice Problem !

Paddy@CIRL

This is a long one, so get comfortable !

Two weeks before we finished college for the summer, our course leader approached us with our subject choices for the final two years. These choices would decide our career choices and our destination into the working world.

The choices were a Major in Illustration, Major in Graphic Design for print, Major in Screen Design, Minor in Illustration, Minor in Graphic Design for print & Minor in Screen Design. We had to choose ONE MAJOR and ONE MINOR.

Everybody picked their choices, most happy, some still somewhat cautious as we were only briefly told what each was about. Just before we finished up we were told that Screen Design would not be run as a major and Illustration would not be run as a minor. First they blamed lack of numbers, even though we've been told the registrar states that a minimum of four is all that is required to run the class ? The lowest amount was 9 in a Major in Screen Design. When told this they then said funding was an issue, yet they have yet to realise that we'll need the same software, hardware & any other expendables for either a major or minor, the primary difference being that much much more time will be spent with the equipment in a major as compared to a minor.

To add to this, our department is also guilty of dirty underhand tactics, in a bid to try make fools of us. There are 29 people in our year. Each choice would need 15 to run according to them. My maths may not be the best but if you got their bare minimum to run one of the choices, that wouldnt leave enough students to run the others. It is my belief that they never intended to run all the choices in the first place.

I've been dealing with this all summer with our Student President, to be fair, he is trying his best but we are getting no where.

Lads, what do I do ? Who should I talk to ?

What is worse is, I don't know what subjects I'm fighting for, I just want my fellow classmates and I to have a full choice available to us ...

Thank you for taking your time to read this

Sully

The joys of WIT. What department is that? Im assuming the student president is Shane of WITSU and not your Class Rep?

We had a similar issue in our course, but it was down to numbers. The chap who was told he couldnt do the subject considered legal action but backed down in the end.

Normally you can speak to the head of your course, if that fails, head of your department, and then down to the registar/principal. Really the students union are supposed to act harder. Just keep pushing and dont give in until you/your class mates are happy.

Paddy@CIRL

Aye Shane of WITSU.

It's the Humanities Department.

I've contacted a city councillor asking for his advice and if he can offer any input !

Wouldn't it be nice to actually enjoy a year of college rather than facing politics, day in, day out.

Sully

Ah Humanities. I do recall him (and others) mentioning how bad department that is.. Id say if you informed your course leader/school head you will take further action if they dont pull their socks up, they might act.

Other avenues are writting to the Department of Eductation, writing to local/national papers etc.

Paddy@CIRL

This councillor has already replied and will get back to me tomorrow evenig. I'm fairly confident he'll be helpful as he isn't tied to the WIT.

Course Leader is on annual leave until September, helpful eh ?

Yea, papers are next on list, along with the likes of some radio hosts or anything that'll bring it some attention ! I just want to go down the proper channels (again) so they cant say I never gave them a chance ...

Sully

Ya im having issues in other areas in WIT. Was told to repeat CA in a subject, I did, and received no word back. Assumed id hear something in the results but didnt, just that I had failed the subject (which I knew, but was told I wasnt doing an exam). Emailed lecturer who is about, but isnt answering emails. Emailed head of course the other day, so we will see if she replies.

Another chap in my course contacted me about the same lecturer, and also the fact he failed a subject but it is not being listed as a repeat subject.

Joys of WIT! :P

Paddy@CIRL

Some does of WIT alright !

Sully

Any updates?

Paddy@CIRL

According to the Registrar we have to wait until the entire class is back together, for everyone to re-choose their subject choice to clarify numbers then for the college to make a decision on what an acceptable class size would be.

My idea is to try to get the class to split into even groups, so there is the same appyling for each course so the college will be forced to run all the classes then let the guys swap back into their prefered choice ...

Sully

Be carefull, that might not work out. What is the general interest, how many numbers roughly per course are there? I know of modules being lectured with just one person in it. It started with three, then dropped down to 1.

Paddy@CIRL

Think the highest was 14, then 9, then 6/7

Not sure as the department adjusted the numbers as they told students they couldn't do X choice ...

Sully

OK well this time id say write down the exact numbers yourself per module.

So Module X - 10, Module Y - 5. Id put down the names of each student per module to. This way, the college cant change it and come back. Have the numbers, and ask "How many students do each module require before it will go ahead?" (I think they should answer that now, instead of waiting for you all to re-assamble - but I suppose, this way the registar can be clear how many numbers each again).

With the numbers you gave, you should be allowed have the modules.

Paddy@CIRL

In fairness, I've never seen more than 6 or 7 turn up for our classes before so I don't see a problem (Our Year is divided into three even groups)