Dear Student,
In the interest of fairness both to my students and myself, as well as to protect my registered students from an overcrowded classroom -- I have chosen to use the existing CSUS registration priority system to determine class enrollment. Registration opportunities are handled via the online CSUS registration site and are assigned in the following order:
1. students with disabilities
2. students in retention programs
3. graduating seniors
4. seniors
5. freshmen
6. classified and credential graduates
7. juniors
8. sophomores
9. second bachelors graduates
10. other unclassified graduates
Only a relatively few of my students are classified as having a disability or are in retention programs. Thus, graduating seniors will get into classes they need by planning properly, registering as early as possible, and taking advantage of the existing priority registration system. The system has been carefully designed to provide the maximum amount of fairness for all considered while maximizing overall student retention.
Now, if circumstance has conspired against you and unseen forces have thwarted your every valiant attempt at competent scheduling and you are not able to get into a specific class you might want to consider a few options.
You could consider taking the course during the Summer (if it is offered).
Sometimes students feel like they "must" take a certain course during a certain semester. That usually isn't true. It is quite common for seniors to "walk across the graduation stage" in the Fall or Spring and then "finish up" a course or two the next semester to complete the "paperwork." For example, a student can usually "pseudo graduate" and then take ASL 2 during winter intersession or during the summer.
(Check with the graduation office for confirmation that will work in your specific situation before trying that though.)
You could check into taking the course at one of the nearby community colleges and transfer it back to CSUS. (That has worked for many students in the past.)
If needed, you could put off graduation and take the course next semester.
If none of those ideas work for you, and you really, really need to take a certain course -- you might have to get wildly creative. For example, perhaps you could fly to Washington D.C. and take the course you need during Gallaudet University's summer program and transfer it back to CSUS?
See: http://summer.gallaudet.edu (Tell your parents that you really have to take a trip to D.C. so you can graduate and you need them to pay your airfare and hotel. Who knows? They might go for it. If so, send me pictures.)
In any case, don't try to crash my course. I don't like to have to break student's hearts in front of other students. If you are dead set on trying to crash a course, try it on one of the evening instructor's. They are generally more willing to take adds.
Best wishes.
Cordially,
Dr. Bill Vicars
p.s. More discussion: Even if there was one seat listed online due to a non-payment drop, my classes would still be over-full because the administration has insisted we bump up our initial enrollments (due to the budget crunch) for each course. Realistically -- since I teach a highly visual topic -- I need to be able to seat the students in a semi-circle so that they can see each other. Many of our classrooms are literally at the point where even one more student DOES impact visibility and makes it considerably harder and more uncomfortable for the instructor and the other students.
Several options for dealing with the CSUS FL Requirement:
1. Self-study and pass a "credit by examination" test.
See: http://www.lifeprint.com/csus/credit-by-examination.htm
$100 fee if administered by me. (Note: I donate the full fee to the ASL club). Other instructors can set their own fee. Gallaudet charges around $165 (google "gallaudet aslpi" and you can use their test if you'd like.)
2. Take the ASL 2 course online via the College of Continuing Education: Challenge the "rule" that you have to be out of CSUS for 2 semesters prior to taking CCE courses. Start the process by contacting the Department Chair in Eureka 401 and explain that you NEED the CCE version of DEAF 52 in order to graduate, that the course is available online in the Fall from CCE, and that not being allowed to take it will place an unnecessary roadblock in your degree path. Ask her point blank for written permission on letterhead for you to sign up for the CCE course. If needed, point out there is NO evidence to indicate that you taking the CCE version of the course would have any impact on existing on-campus DEAF 52 course offerings since traditionally those classes have waiting lists each semester. If needed, start climbing the administrative ladder all the way to the Chancellor and Board of Regents.
3. Take an ASL 2 class at a community college and transfer it back here. (See www.assist.org).
4. Check to see if your major is considered a "high unit major." If so you can opt out of the FL requirement.