Maybe I shouldn't have started this blog now, not with everything that's been going on.

I was talking about giving the students as many subjects as possible during their academic advising.

These two are the most common reasons I give for filling up a student’s class list for the upcoming term: that it is best for them to take a lot of their subjects early in their schooling to leave more than enough time free and clear during the times they are taking their difficult major subjects – and their thesis or practicum - in the next years, and that the tuition is relatively cheaper now at this time. The rate per unit can only go up, so why pay for something at a more expensive price in the future that they can get for a lesser amount today?

Some more gripes I have about the relatively primitive information system we have for student enrollment: the students are not versed enough with the procedure of the system that they still think changing subjects over a simple matter of preference or which one their friends are going to be in is a piece of cake.

That’s why we have academic advising in the first place: to show the students the importance of planning out their lives (as early as the tenth week of classes) – not waiting until the last minute - and following instructions.

But part of the problem is that there is no coordination yet among the advisers. Some students would complain that there are some who are lenient when it comes to following prerequisites – or in fact, have their own idea about the definition and restriction of such subjects. I know there was a meeting one time towards the latter part of the term, but I didn’t get to attend because of a conflict or something.

As I was saying last time, there are also some students who insist on getting more than twenty-one units. Some, whose grades do not even qualify them for the Dean’s List, are incredulous when I turn them down.

I cite the fact that these limits have been set by older institutions based on the average performance of thousands of students who have taken them.

In retort I have been told that one student was allowed one time, two terms ago. In retrospect, the director who approved that (out of ignorance for the reason behind the rule, having been hired from the industry more than from years of teaching experience) has since reneged, and won’t give another student the same consent unless there is a signed okay from the Executive Vice President.

Also, the student at that time ended up failing five of his subjects. More proof that there is good reason for the restriction. The students simply aren’t built for handling that many courses for one term.

Of course, the students now have a more valid reason for wanting to take up more subjects at this time: they want to graduate “on time” with their classmates, especially since there have been no summer classes offered for the past two years.

So far, they either haven’t gone so far as to write to the EVP or those who have weren’t approved.

I just heard the bell. Stories for next time: additional tidbits about the teacher who sold the students a primer he made for exemptions and students of mine who have gone on TV, besides what I listed down last time. For now, class dismissed.