<p>From the Ram Online, 2/13/08
Pre-Meds</a> Struggle With Scheduling - News</p>
<p>Before the start of a new semester, students engage in the traditional class registration process. For pre-med students at Fordham, registration can be a more stressful experience than for their peers. Rumors were swirling, however, that this past registration was more difficult than previous years, with unexplained absences in the biology department. </p>
<p>According to Donna Heald, associate dean for Science Education and director of Pre-Health Professions Advising for Fordham College at Rose Hill, the rumors of faculty firings are just that - rumors. </p>
<p>"Perhaps most importantly, it is not true that the biology department fired four faculty," Heald said. "The biology department experienced a loss of faculty for a variety of reasons - retirement, another job offer, etc."</p>
<p>Although no faculty member was fired, the biology department is currently handling the task of filling the vacant positions. William B. Thornhill, chair of the department of biological sciences, is working to remedy the problem of these absences. </p>
<p>"We are currently conducting searches for faculty members," he said. </p>
<p>Thornhill also dismissed rumors that pre-med students were not offered enough biology classes. </p>
<p>"The biology department did not offer only three or four courses in Fall 2007," he said. "If you look at the Course Offering Booklet, there were seven upper-division courses for Biology majors." </p>
<p>Although staffing was reduced, the vacancies did not negatively impact pre-med students. </p>
<p>"We were still able to accommodate all students in classes in both the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008," said Thornhill. </p>
<pre><code> Pre-med students agreed that they were able to enroll in their required courses.
</code></pre>
<p>"I was able to register on one of the first days for freshmen, so I was able to get all the classes I wanted," Stephanie Szempruch, FCRH '11, said. </p>
<p>Even though pre-med students did get the biology classes they needed, some students still experienced registration problems. Thornhill explained how the administration attempted to solve these students' troubles.<br>
"As you may know, we use previous semester enrollments to limit the number of sections and students in a course," Thornhill said. "When we have an overload, a number of students are placed on a waiting list by Dr. Gerard Iwantsch, associate chair in the biology department. Dr. Donna Heald is also involved in this conversation. Any biology major or student in the pre-health program unable to enroll in biology courses who sought help in the department was enrolled in a biology course by the department. We do not know of a student that was not able to take one of these upper division courses."</p>
<p>While registration may be over, pre-med students still have scheduling concerns. Specifically, many students worry about the amount of required core classes on top of their pre-med classes. </p>
<p>Paul Leis, FCLC '10, agrees that the core causes problems. </p>
<p>"The core makes the scheduling problems," Leis said. "I do not feel the problem is with the science department but rather with the rest of the administrative staff. They have no care for the pre-med students.Maybe the school should possibly cut out some of the core for pre-med students." </p>
<p>Laura V. Veras , FCLC '10, also understands scheduling woes. </p>
<p>"Pre-meds at LC often have problems with finding core classes to schedule around pre-med classes," she said. "A lot of us have resigned ourselves to the fact that our major dictates our schedule, and if we happen to find a class that we also wanted to take, then that's a perk."</p>
<p>The workload for pre-med students can be daunting. </p>
<p>"First semester freshman year you're taking 18 credits," Chrissy Nayar, FCRH '10, said. Then from second semester until at least second semester sophomore year you'd be taking 20 credits. We have to finish all or most of the core in addition to our science classes by sophomore year." </p>
<p>In addition to classes, pre-med students also have lab schedules they must work around. </p>
<p>"Furthermore, we don't get the block whereby students aren't supposed to have class - instead we have lab," Nayer said. "Having two four hour labs really screws up your schedule. Most pre med students will go from 8:30-5:00 without a break because of lab."
The administration is now making adjustments to accommodate the rising need for science and math courses. </p>
<p>"In fall 2007, the course cap in Genetics was increased and an extra section of genetics lab was offered to meet the student demand for this course," Heald said. "In spring 2008, additional students were added to biochemistry to meet the student need. In spring 2008, an extra section of Calculus I was opened because a higher than expected number of students wanted to register for this course." </p>
<p>Heald views the need for additional classes as a positive sign for Fordham. </p>
<p>"The great news is that more students are interested in studying science and pursuing the pre-health program," Heald said. "For that reason, a larger number of students are pursuing upper level biology coursework than in the past." </p>
<p>While the number of classes increases, only time will tell if the concerns of a growing pre-med population will lead to more changes within the program.</p>