For Triton’s Call

You’re so close to graduating, but that one class you need is completely full to capacity and the professor just won’t accept your override form. This has happened countless times to students of the University of Guam. So, what else is there to do? Well luckily, you can obtain credit for that class one way or another, you just need to know the right people to talk to and explore your options.

First things first, have a meeting with your advisor. This is crucial in exploring your options. Your advisor’s job is to see to it that you get the credits you need in order to fulfill your academic requirements.

Michael Griffin, an advisor to many of the University’s Communication students, who has been described as “very helpful” and above all, “caring”, shared his input on how one could obtain credit for classes he or she is unable to get into.

There are a few things students can do to gain that experience they need to fulfill the credit requirements. For one, students are able to explore the classes the Guam Community College offers that are similar to the ones they need to substitute the needed credit. This is sometimes difficult though, Griffin mentioned, because not all of the class credits from the Guam Community College are transferrable to the University.

Another option that not too many students are familiar with is “course by conference”. It is when a student and professor have a set schedule to meet at least twice a week to discuss the lesson plan in the form of a one-on-one conference. This is an even more rare occasion.

Michael Gunn, the Dean of the Enrollment Management and Student Services, also presented a few options students are able to go through with their professor or dean of their college.

Don’t be discouraged to talk to your professor or dean. Most of the time they are willing to work with you if it is within reason. You could have a talk with your dean about possibly opening up another section if there are typically ten or more students that need this specific class. There’s also the alternative to maybe take an online version of the course. Of course, students must get approval for this and that it meets the same requirements that the University has.

“Whatever the student wants to pursue, the key is making sure the University is going to accept it as a viable alternative source to the information.”

Lastly, if all else fails, it is up to you and your fellow classmates to pull together and get a petition going. If you are able to find enough students who need a certain class that won’t be offered for another year or so, you might be able to get a petition together so that the course could be offered within the following semester or maybe even as an intersession or summer course.

These are just a few of the options you can explore as a student trying to graduate on time or as an incoming freshman that thinks he or she is down on their luck. Have a talk with your advisor and see what else you can do to get yourself settled and out of college in time.