UNM is big. It is the states largest employer. I would guesstimate to say there are more than 20,000 students. To me a big University is a big attraction to students because it provides for alot of opportunity. Opportunity to join clubs, meet new people, and step outside your normal ways. Now these were definitely reasons I chose to transfer to UNM, but the biggest reason was frankly because it is big... Huge by New Mexico standards. Naturally I thought I would have a wide vairety of classes to choose from and a wide selection of time slots. Boy was I ever wrong!!!!!
It is nearly impossible to make a school and work schedule.. well work. For the past 4 semesters I have been burdened with the daunting task of making a school schedule that will fit with my work schedule. It is nearly impossible! I know what some are thinking.. Get a job that works with your school schedule.. Yeah I could do that... And make peanuts! I have tried arranging and rearranging a schedule that will work and I always come up on the short side of hours. Maybe this is UNM's way of keeping me longer so they can make more money off me. If that is the case, maybe they can use some of that money to hire more teachers, or give the existing teachers a raise so that they can focus on teaching and not have to scrounge just like me for a way to make a living.
The University seriously needs to refocus on students needs... Gone are the days where a student can work part time and still be able to support himself. Having a schedule that is not flexible is very hard to work with. I would hope that a University the size of UNM would be able to accomadate more students and realize that school is not the only thing we do!
Here is just an example of wha I am talking about: There is a class that I have wanted to take since about 3 years ago. Since then it has kept the same time slot. The reason I couldn't take that class is because I had to work at that time! The only other time it has been offered is guess what? A little bit later in the day; when I am working. I wish that whoever sets the schedule would realize that an early time slot would be nice too. Not just two afternoon time slots! Anyhow, trying to setup a schedule at UNM has got to be the hardest assignment I have received here!!!!
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I've had the same issue with a certain 400-level English class. It's a class that I've always wanted to take, but could not because it was always available on the days that I didn't have class. Now, all of a sudden, they change the days that it's taught and it'll be during the one semester that I've had to switch my class days in order to accommodate another class that I have to take.
The current system is downright confusing and only caters to the convenience of the professors teaching the classes, not of the students that need the classes to graduate. Maybe the university does do it to keep us around longer, but just like Microsoft or Dell, the university as a whole is considered a place of business that provides a very important service to the community, and this is just another way for them to make more money off of us.
In other words, I completely agree with what you said. I could've probably said that without being so long winded.
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