The recent cancellation of two 400-level biology classes has upperclass biology majors scrambling to fill their schedules and fulfill requirements.
According to Reginald Garrett, director of undergraduate studies in Biology, the cancellation of the two courses BIOL 401, "Macroevolution," and BIOL 413, "Population Ecology and Conservation Biology," was announced just prior to the start of the semester.
The cause of the courses' cancellation was staffing, Garret said.
"The Macroevolution professor left to take a job at Georgia at the end of last semester, and 413 is taught by a professor on leave," Garrett said.
The cancellation of the two classes created a number of problems, with students scrambling to find classes, Garrett said.
"We're having an incredible amount of pressure on 300 and 400-level classes," Garrett said.
The cancellation of these classes has a larger significance for fourth-year students since Bachelor of Sciences candidates in biology need four 400-level biology courses to graduate. In addition, BIOL 413 is a requirement for the specialization in environmental and biological conservation.
"It's a little inconvenient, especially for the fourth-years," fourth-year biology major Becky Hoke said. "Some of my friends are graduating a semester early, and it's even more inconvenient."
Fourth-year biology major Renee Mehrzad said she planned to take two 400-level courses this semester but was only able to take one.
Hoke said it created even more problems because the students were informed so late.
"Instead of telling us way ahead of time, they told us a week before classes," Hoke said.
Garrett said he has only held the title of director of undergraduate studies for the Biology Department for two weeks and was not sure whether or not it would have been possible to inform the students earlier.
"I'm not sure how the dynamic worked out," Garrett said.
Garrett said he believes some students anticipated the courses' cancellation because they emailed him over the summer hoping to get into BIOL 501, "Biochemistry" which would fulfill major requirements.
Garrett said the Biology Department was trying to take steps to alleviate the pressure on graduating fourth-years.
"I will be teaching BIOL 501 again in the spring," Garrett said.
Garrett explained that BIOL 501 filled up almost immediately for the fall and that, by adding a course for the spring, he hopes to increase the number of high level biology courses available.
Other members of the Biology Department have also been making an effort to help students get into required classes.
Hoke said she heard the department might offer BIOL 413 in the spring semester.
"I know I'm not the only one in this situation," Mehrzad said. "Biology teachers have been doing a lot to accommodate for this."
Mehrzad said she was hoping the department will be more lenient since her inability to fulfill the requirement is not her fault.
"If no 400-levels are available, I can petition to take a 300-level instead of a 400-level," Mehrzad said.
Garrett said the department was working to prevent this sort of scheduling crunch from occurring in the future but is constricted by a Sept. 6 deadline for information for the Spring 2007 Course Offering Directory.
"We've encountered significant problems in terms of demand for our classes and don't have much time to address it," Garrett said.
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