By Brian Bohl
University undergraduates may find it easier and more affordable to finish their degrees in four years.
A referendum voted on at this week’s Student Government Association elections will give the student body an opportunity to approve a measure that would increase the number of credits a full-time student can take in one semester from 17 to 18 as part of the regular tuition.
If passed, the referendum has the potential to ease the financial burden by allowing students to take up to six classes in the fall and spring semesters without being subjected to additional fees, according to Student Government Association officials.
The referendum was brought to the SGA Rules Committee on March 22 by Senator Lisa Giunta and approved by the Senate on April 4. Even if passed, the measure would still be subject to approval by Hofstra administrators and would mostly likely take effect in the 2007-08 academic year at the earliest, SGA officials said.
“When I asked President Rabinowitz during his open office hours how he felt about the referendum, he said he would definitely consider it if enough students voiced support for it,” Giunta said. “I would assume that it would be unlikely for the fall and maybe even the spring, because the University has already publicized their tuition and fees for the 2006-07 academic year. Therefore, we might have to wait for the following academic year.”
In the fall of 2006, any student taking 18 credits in a semester will be charged $735 for the one additional credit. That is a $65 increase from the $670 per-credit charge for 2005-06.
“Aside from the fact that this is misleading, it seemed logical to us that tuition should include all 18 credits, not 17. Especially since classes generally are three credits and it just makes sense that the total amount of semester hours included in our tuition is divisible by three,” Simon Duncanson, SGA vice presidential candidate and chairman of the Academics Affairs Committee, said.
Many academic degree programs offered by the University require students to take at least a few extra classes during the regular semesters or the winter and summer intersessions in order to graduate within four years. A regular workload of five three-credit classes would amount to 120 credits over four years, which would fall below the threshold of the 124 required semester hours for a Bachelor’s degree. For a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, the credit total required stands at 128.
“The Academic Affairs Committee felt this was a problem because students are led to believe that the 18th credit is included in their tuition, which unfortunately is not the case,” Duncanson said.
Not all students are thrilled with the prospect of taking an extra course. Despite the availability of a free sixth class, some undergraduates still claim they will need to take a course in the summer or winter.
“I know some people will take advantage of it for money issues,” said Jesse Freedman, a sophomore market major. “But by taking a sixth class, I will severely be sacrificing my grades as well as my college social life, which I feel is also a major part of a college education. No matter what, I plan on taking some courses in the summer to counter taking only five during the semester.”