Students who need intermediate French classes will have to take a different language class to satisfy the requirement after officials canceled the courses for Fall 2016.
There weren’t enough students to justify keeping the course on the schedule based on the number of beginning French students who needed the intermediate course, said Dr. Helen Gaudin, acting associate dean for Petree College of Arts and Sciences.
She said:
Based on prioritization, the cabinet of the university wants at least 10 students in a lower-level course and eight in an upper-level course. You need a certain number of students in the class for it to be economically sound, since you’re paying the faculty to teach.”
Prioritization allowed officials to see where university money was spent and determine if changes should be made to academic and support programs. It resulted in budget cuts across campus.
Taking the French class off the schedule was a proactive measure to cause as little disturbance as possible, Gaudin said. Students can make accommodations now, instead of finding out there weren’t enough students for the class when they return in the fall.
Any students who need the additional year of foreign language can petition to do another language in replacement of the ones not offered. The requirement for many students is four semesters of the same language, but if the university can’t offer the remaining classes, then students can take four semesters total in two different languages.
“It’s certain that students will be taken care of,” Gaudin said. “It’s not going to mess up anyone’s degree plan.”
One student said the process of getting permission to take Spanish instead is not a big deal.
“My adviser apparently talked to administration and they made an exception,” said Natalie Chapman, mass communications junior. “It wasn’t too bad, but I am disappointed I can’t finish French. I’m glad I can take another language course at OCU instead of having to go to another university.”
The class cancellation does not mean the end of French classes at OCU.
“This is simply class scheduling based on what we perceive to be student demand,” Gaudin said. “We’re optimistic that the university enrollment numbers are looking good for next year, so there could be more students, and we could have a French III the following year.”
The only language guarantees for all four semesters is Spanish.
“Students who haven’t started language credits shouldn’t be discouraged from taking French,” Gaudin said. “If students start French, it’s possible that intermediate French will be back by their junior year. It’s not risky because students will be taken care of either way.”
Chinese (Beginning I and II and Intermediate I), Elementary French I, Beginning German I, Beginning Arabic I, and all levels of Spanish language courses are offered in the Fall 2016 semester.
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