The New AU Parents Thread

<p>She was told consortium was not available. She really tried to get appt. to show her portfolio
to place into higher art classes at AU but was told that it was not possible.</p>

<p>a) It would not be impossible for your daughter to finish, or even difficult. Yes, she would take most (if not all) Studio Art classes her last few years but if that is her passion (which that seems to be the case) then that shouldn’t be an issue. She could just be getting all her General Education classes out of the way right now. AU requires significant time investment in a liberal arts education to make sure what you want to do IS what you want to do. That’s 13 classes (2 semesters college writing, one of math, and 10 across the disciplines) of classes – over two full years – that are required that have nothing do do with the major. The Studio Art major only requires 54 credits, while Political Science requires 58 and International Studies requires between 67 and 80 credits (when you include Foreign Language requirements). So that’s 54 credits out of the 120 AU requires to graduate. She may not be able to declare as early as she likes, but it easily doable in just over a year and a half, much less the three and a half years your daughter has left.</p>

<p>b) I find it odd that your daughter has had so much trouble getting into classes. You say she has tried contacting the administration, and I was wondering who she’s contacted so far. Advisors are on the front line of student relations, and often pull strings to get students into classes who are desperately trying to fill prerequisites to no avail. The department head, is also available to meet with students who are interested in the program and have concerns. Also, waitlists aren’t the end of the world – I’ve been on waitlists as long as 6 or 7 people long and if you show up on the first day of class, it shows you’re interested and not just haphazardly viewing courses. Nine times out of ten if you do that, and email them in advance telling them how excited you are, they’ll let you in.</p>

<p>Looking at the course catalog now, there are studio art classes open (no waitlist) which have NO prerequisites, both are required for the major.</p>

<p>ARTS - 235 Artist’s Perspect: Multimedia
ARTS - 334 Ceramics Studio</p>

<p>I also find it odd that she couldn’t contact the teachers of the following courses, which are open for Spring 2010 and explicitly state that they will let you in with the permission of the instructor. </p>

<p>ARTS 410 - Multimedia Seminar
ARTS 520 - Advanced Printmaking (has a 1 person wait, but that shouldn’t be difficult)
ARTS 561 - Drawing Practicum II</p>

<p>What a helpful and well-researched response, AUTransfer! We freshman parents are lucky to have your thoughtful input on this board.</p>

<p>AUTransfer:</p>

<pre><code> Thank you for the incredible response! OK, here’s the deal. Her advisor has been directing her to go to the arts registrar in Katzen. The registrar has been a dead end lately with no help. The registrar did create a new section of beginning painting this term, but is not very responsive now. The course ARTS205, Drawing, is a critical prereq for all printmaking and drawing courses etc.Even if she took multimedia as you mentioned, or other courses, that will narrow her arts options for sophomore year and on. You really need the prereqs done early to take other courses you mentioned. The problem is Arts 205, drawing, is a Gen Ed filled with upperclassmen without regard for the real arts majors. Also, she tried to place out of arts 205 to solve the problem. The arts registar would not accommodate her meeting with faculty to do this. In fact, she told daughter to just take beginning sculpture which is now filled and not even required for the major. Multimedia is filling fast as well and is not a critical prereq. She can’t even register unitl next week.
</code></pre>

<p>My d. (for music, same deal with registrar) just made an appointment with the necessary faculty member - they ALL have posted office hours - met with her, displayed the equivalent of a portfolio, and the problem was taken care of in 10 minutes, no muss, no fuss. Even some of the requirements were waived.</p>

<p>She has been on waiting lists several times. Not once has she not gotten into the course she wanted or needed. Same for her roommate.</p>

<p>Being a recent graduate, and now a graduate student, I’ve had my experiences with classes being closed. It happens, it’s part of being a student. I also realized that making a 4 year plan, in most cases, is not a good idea. Enough changes happen every semester that will make a four plan almost unworkable.</p>

<p>That is to say that a student shouldn’t plan at all, but trying to peg particular classes every semester you’re at college when you’re last on the priority to register has a highly likelihood of going awry. My advisers always helped me deal with any problem, but you have to be willing to work with them as well. There are enough different requirements in every major (as well as the Gen Ed program) that there are classes you are able to change and take.</p>

<p>Of course the advantage is, once you’re a senior, you have your pick. Small classes that fill up also mean you have a small class. I would venture to guess that if you wanted an art class and it had 50 people in a studio, you would be pretty disappointed when walking in. Mutually exclusive goals at a University are tough to meet.</p>

<p>The last 2 open studio courses are rapidly filling up as well as all Gen Eds creating a very limited situation for my daughter. Her friends are complaining as well. She asked the registrar for the name of the advanced drawing instructor so she could talk to him or her directly to try to get in that class, and he said they haven’t grabbed the nearest grad student yet to teach it. Not promising on all counts.</p>

<p>CR, has your daughter had any second thoughts about transferring to RISD or any of the other art programs she got into last year?</p>

<p>Wrist:
I did ask her about transferring, and because she seems somewhat acclimated otherwise and kind of adverse to change, she did not want to even consider it. She does like her current classes. It is just stressful for her to have an uphill battle regarding the art department and getting classes in general. If there are so many waiting list that suggests the college needs to consider meeting the demand, not limiting student’s choices anf forcing them into courses they are not interested in at all. Flexibility is also in order on the part of AU, regarding her trying to place out into upper level art classes if the lower ones are constantly filled. She could definitely handle a higher class and has a portfolio to prove it.</p>

<p>Just some food for thought–I transferred to Art Center College of Design after 2 years of college even though they required starting over again with their 4 year program (my completed academics meant I could take more art classes). But I really can’t imagine being competitive in the art world without a more rigorous art focused program that comes with a like-minded peer group.</p>

<p>CR, I’m sorry your daughter is having trouble with her scheduling again.</p>

<p>Son had no real problems with his schedule for next semester, other than that two of his favorite professors are both teaching classes he needs/wants at the same time. So he had to choose one. 5 classes, 17 hours. He may need a little time to adapt–first semester he has taken only 4 classes for 15 hours.</p>

<p>Can a professor override the enrollment cap on his classes/ Can Freshman or upperclassmen register for more than 18 credits and then drop down to 18 later on??? Can you request that more meats be offered in the TDR???</p>

<p>“The last 2 open studio courses are rapidly filling up as well as all Gen Eds creating a very limited situation for my daughter. Her friends are complaining as well. She asked the registrar for the name of the advanced drawing instructor so she could talk to him or her directly to try to get in that class, and he said they haven’t grabbed the nearest grad student yet to teach it. Not promising on all counts.”</p>

<p>The Multimedia class hasn’t received a single enrollee since I posted about it a week ago – it’s still out of two people. Your daughter should look at the course catalog online, which is available for everyone to view – it tells which classes are taught by which teacher and she should take the initiative to email them herself. It’s also not possible for whoever she talked to, to have said that. Graduate Students are only allowed to be a Teachers Assistant (TA) – and the Princeton Review says that the number of classes taught at American University by TAs is exactly 0%.</p>

<p>“Can a professor override the enrollment cap on his classes/ Can Freshman or upperclassmen register for more than 18 credits and then drop down to 18 later on??? Can you request that more meats be offered in the TDR???” </p>

<p>a) Professors can override the enrollment cap – and that is the benefit of showing up on the first day of class if you’re on the wait list. More often than not, as long as it doesn’t exceed the room cap, they professor will let you in. On a sidenote, AU also has a new automated waitlist service which erases the need for students to check in constantly to see if a space has opened up. </p>

<p>b) From the degree requirements for undergraduates: “No undergraduate will be permitted to register for more than 19 credit hours without the appropriate dean’s permission. It is strongly recommended that no student be responsible for more than 21 credit hours including incompletes and courses in progress.” I suppose you could petition the dean, and then drop back below the 19 credit cap later on.</p>

<p>c) I don’t think the dining program takes individual requests – but is more likely to be influenced by large groups. (Like I know Hillel on campus works to get more Kosher meals etc.) I’ve never noticed a low amount of meat, and it seems to keep rampant carnivores, vegetarians and vegans well fed – even during religious holidays that impact food intake.</p>

<hr>

<p>Hope everyone finishes up their holidays safely, and enjoys the time that their students have been home. Good luck to everyone as classes taper off and studying for finals start up. :)</p>

<p>AU Transfer:
Thank you for the valuable info. She will still try to email profs as you suggested. Can she add her name to as many waitlists as she wants??</p>

<p>AUtransfer:</p>

<p>Sorry to bother you again. Should she enroll in the one course that is most likely to fill up and then go back in later to register the others?</p>

<p>AUTransfer:</p>

<pre><code>Though my daughter got into in the Multimedia course, as you kindly suggested, she still should have absolutely been given priority for Arts 205, which is the prereq for so many of the upper level studio courses. Next fall, she will be severely limited as to what she could take and will be regressing and way too ADVANCED to have to take a beginning drawing course at that stage. (IF it isn’t filled again!!) It is not logical.
</code></pre>

<p>Forgot to mention I went to a holiday party this weekend and met an MFA grad from AU, from the mid 1990’s, and said she went through many problems with the administration at that time with classes, fin aid, etc…</p>

<p>cad, when your daughter is an upperclassmen she will have priority to register first. Students with more credits register earlier because they have less time to fill their requirements, of course it is logical!</p>

<p>I hear you Nic89, but how is it logical to take beginning art classes in your upperclassmen years? She should be required to and be able to be placed in Arts 205 now, so she will able to take the many advanced requirements to meet the 74 credits for BFA or 55 credits for BA. She wants to graduate on time. Without Arts 205, you can’t take Drawing 360, any of the printmaking classes or Sculpture 340 etc… It is not set up for or encouraging for art majors at all! You must take the prereq. to be able to take all of the requirements, but they won’t let you??? Not to mention, an artist is not supposed to skip years of drawing and painting. It is a discipline that must be practiced everyday!</p>

<p>I understand what you’re saying and it is frustrating. Prospective art majors reading this thread may need to realize that the options and courses offered at an institution not known for it’s art program may be limited.</p>