Friday, April 13, 2007
Scheduling problems bring
stress for faculty and students
By Kaylan Samec
contributing writer
Penn State Behrend students are exhaust
ed after a long battle of scheduling for the
fall semester. Students had trouble decid
ing how to place specific courses into their
busy schedules.
Some students need higher level courses
for their majors, but they say they can't take
all of them. A common problem for stu
dents has been that either the classes are
scheduled at the same time or are only
offered one semester per year. Students
then have to wait for the next year to take
all required courses, making
them miss their expected grad-
uation date
While upperclassmen strug
gled for their specific classes,
some newer students said they
had problems deciding what
they need as general education
classes. A lot of freshmen stu
dents come to Behrend with
undecided majors, leaving
them confused of what courses to take that
may help them later. Having a large variety
of general education courses to choose
from may seem like a good thing, but if a
student chooses courses that will not work
with their major, it may end up pushing
their graduation date back. Penn State
Behrend freshman Katrina Huevel said it
was very difficult to choose classes without
having decided on a major. "I'm not posi
tive on what general education classes that
I need to take," said Huevel. "Since I have
no idea what I want to do it leaves many
open options, but so open that I may be
going in the wrong direction." Huevel dis
cussed how she had another problem with
scheduling since she is involved in the var
sity sport cheerleading. "I have to fit all my
classes before five o'clock so I can make it
to practice," said Huevel. "Since I have to
International Institute Project continued from page 1
' allow them to continue learning on their own time. Wilson said she was accompained by Kelly Walczak
(MKTG) who was also a big part of the International Institute Project. "I wanted to thahk Kelly Walczak,
Erin Winklevoss and Melanie Blass. They were all a huge help and it wouldn't have been such a success
without their help." said Wilson.
Quing Liang, ESL Coordinator for the International Institute of Erie. said she was very interested in the
fundraiser when she first heard about it. "Students have their own money problems with tuition, books and
everything else, so we are thrilled when they just volunteer their time to help the immigrants merge into
American culture. So when they help more by donating money and hooks, I am very impressed," said
Liang. She explained that the money brought in by the International Institute Project will be used to pur
chase translation dictionaries for the families learning to speak and read English.
Liang said the ultimate goal of the International Institute of Erie is to help the immigrants achieve self
sufficiency, as many of them come from disastrous cultures and devastated countries. However, due to the
recent decision to merge with, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USC), they have had to lay
off several employees and cut back on overall spending and supportive funding for the immigrants.
According to their website, USCI claims to "Address the needs and rights of persons in forced or volun
tary migration worldwide by advancing fair and humane public policy, facilitating and providing direct pro
fessional services, and promoting the full participation of migrants in community life."
While Liang said the merging will benefit the International Institute of Erie, currently it has them in an
uproar. "Volunteers have been an excellent support for us, especially all the support from college students
at Gannon, Mercyhurst, Edinboro and Behrend. Even if they just come in and volunteer for a couple of
hours, it makes such a difference. We are so grateful to Danielle and Professor Blasko, who has been send
ing her students to help us for years," said Liang.
For the past 87 years, Erie has been the resettlement destination for thousands of immigrants and
refugees, and Liang said she believes it is because of the warm, family-friendly community of Erie. She
commented that nearly 70,000 refugees come to the United States each year, and a few hundred of them
come to Erie. However, many people are unaware of the annual increase of immigrants because Erie
already has many different cultural communities established for the new immigrants to move into. Liang
said, "The system first looks to see where the families are from. We have had families from all different
places, like Bosnia, Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Somali, Sudan and Turkey where they have suffered great reli
gious persecution. If they already have families in the U.S., then they are usually placed with them. If not,
then they are placed where communities have already been set up like Erie."
Liang also stressed the value of college students who volunteer and work with the immigrants who are
around the same age. "They help them and know that someone here is going to look out for them. Then
they can say, 'I have an American friend now,' and that is so important to their transition," said Liang. This
concept was also part of the International Institute Project's mission, to help students become aware of the
organization and get them invested and involved in the lives of the immigrants. Wilson was previously
quoted as saying, "We also want people to know their stories, so we will have pictures and information
about some of the refugees at our tables so people can really see who they are helping." Wilson said she
now hopes that the donations, efforts and awareness of Behrend students will continue through volunteer
ing at the International Institute of Erie, as the gift of time, communication and direct interaction is the most
influential donation.
To find out more about the International Institute of Erie or to sign up to volunteer go to www.interin-
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cram all my classes with that time frame,
there are classes that I am not often avail
able after five."
While many freshmen students are strug
gling with fitting classes into their busy
schedules, other students are struggling to
graduate on time. Some Behrend transfer
students said they are having problems with
their credits transferring from another col
lege to Behrend. Sophomore Chris Krysiak
said that he should be a junior after trans
ferring from Slippery Rock. "Most of my
classes that did transfer from Slippery Rock
were my general education classes," said
Krysiak. "Most of the classes that I need to
take are my major classes. But
since I can't take all of them I
want, they expect me to take
general education classes that I
already took at Slippery Rock."
Krysiak plans to take summer
courses to catch up to his
planned graduation date.
Not only is scheduling
frustrating for students, it can be
stressful for some advisors as
well. Penn State Behrend Communication
Professor and advisor, Dr. Troester said it is
very difficult for everyone on campus.
"The biggest problem for advisors is actu
ally getting the students to see their advi
sors," said Dr. Troester. "Later students
realize that they don't have all the classes
they need to graduate and then finally come
to speak to their advisor. So as advisors, we
try to email students to remind them to
speak to us so they can get the right classes
and graduate on time." Penn State Behrend
advisors and staff continue to support stu
dents with their busy schedules.
It is not too late to receive help from your
advisor with your student schedule.
Advisors and staff are always open for
questions. If you continue to have prob
lems with your schedule, make an appoint
ment to speak with an advisor today.
I\l ENVS
Returning adult student speaks out about Behrend's
small adult student population
At Penn State Behrend, Adult Students represent only
13 percent of the current student population. According
to the Center for Adult Students at Behrend, an adult
learner is a student who meets one or more of the follow
ing criteria: is 24 years of age or older, a veteran of the
armed forces, returning to school after four or more years,
and/or assuming multiple roles such as parent,
spouse/partner, employee and student.
Adult student and English major Pamela Glass trans
ferred to Behrend from Penn State Shenango last year.
Glass began her education at Penn State Shenango, where
54 percent of the student body was adult learners.
Transferring to the Behrend campus as an adult learner
Glass says was quite an adjustment for Glass, as she said.
"Throughout the day, I see very few adult learners."
Glass, who is a middle-aged mother, finds the universi
ty's description of an adult student to be misrepresenta
tive, saying, "Many students take longer than four years to
finish college, and graduate when they are 24 or 25 years
old." In an English class that Glass is currently enrolled,
she posted a discussion on the class message board asking
students for their input on the university's description of
an adult learner. Classmate Kayla Hammer responded
saying, "I think that the age for adult learners should he
raised to 30-years-old. I know a few people that will be
24 by the time they graduate." In addition, Hammer said,
"My sister will be 24 way before she gets her diploma,
Behrend students help with the Ophelia Project
Behrend musicians are helping out by giving their time and talents to put together a concert of cover songs and orig
inals. The Ophelia Project is an Erie-based organization that advocates healthy peer relationships. Students of Dr.
Ursula Davis' COMMU 305 class are putting together the concert to raise money and awareness for the Ophelia Project.
Students in the class contacted the organization, telling them they would like to help raise awareness. The Ophelia
Project depends on people such as these musicians for support.
The benefit concert will feature Behrend student musicians that were asked to play the local show
teering to preform are Jefferson James, Ryan Gallagher, Brian Hutchison and Jeff Siempka.
The concert will be held at the Plymouth on Thursday. April 19 starting at 9 p.m. Students and others involved will
be collecting donations for the Ophelia Project to benefit the local organization.
By Jessica Samol
copy editor
because she is currently overseas with the military. I don't
picture her as an adult student."
Aside from the age issue of adult students. Glass
believes that Behrend's campus has tried to create a wel
coming environment for adult learners. One of the ways
Behrend has done so is through organizations such as the
Returning Adult Student Organization (RASO). whose
purpose is to promote concerns of returning adult students
while providing friendship and support to them and their
families. However, Glass feels that adjusting to Behrend
has been difficult, saying. "There does not seem to he
quite as many social aspects. particularly events for adult
students."
In comparison to Penn State Shenango. Glass feels that
perhaps more adult learners attended the campus due to its
accessibility and advertising for adult students. Glass
describes the environment of Penn State Shenango, sav
ing. "It was much more laid hack. There seems to he a lot
of competition and pressure among students at Behrend.-
Glass feels that Behrend places a much larger emphasis on
its academics than Shenango. which has made her much
more academic-centered.
Glass feels that the adult student population could get
larger if Behrend advertised more to prospective adults.
Furthermore, Glass thinks that Behrend needs some sort
of provision to help and attract more adult learners.
Despite being among the minority of adult learners at
Behrend Glass is doing just fine. She is scheduled for an
internship this summer at Meadville Universal Well
Drilling Inc.
By Sam Del Verne
contributing writer
The Behrend Beacon I
Students volun-