TESU - What To Do With Evaluation Issue?

[kb4ns1]

So after completing a ton of tests (CLEP, DSST, SL, and others), I finally applied to TESU seeking a BA in Criminal Justice. I logged in to student services this morning to find that they'd completed my evaluation. I noticed two things, though, that I'm hoping can be changed. First, they list the Substance Abuse DSST under my General Ed requirements which I'm thinking would be better suited as a Criminal Justice course (especially since it's UL!). Second, they have my SL Intro To World Religions course listed at the very bottom ("Other Courses") as 3 hours of "REL-405" but with a "*NE" notation which, according to the key, means "non-course equivalency". Since it shows 3.00 S.H. I assume it just means that the course is worth 3 hours, there's just nowhere to put it.

The only place I lack credits now is in the Criminal Justice area. What are the odds of getting the Substance Abuse DSST moved to CJ and the World Religions course moved to electives? And how would I go about getting it changed?

There's an (800) number on the evaluation for questions, but I'm hoping you smart folks on the forum can arm me with some knowledge before I chat with anyone at the school. Especially since I've read so many posts about advisers giving erroneous information.

Thanks!

[cookderosa]

So after completing a ton of tests (CLEP, DSST, SL, and others), I finally applied to TESU seeking a BA in Criminal Justice. I logged in to student services this morning to find that they'd completed my evaluation. I noticed two things, though, that I'm hoping can be changed. First, they list the Substance Abuse DSST under my General Ed requirements which I'm thinking would be better suited as a Criminal Justice course (especially since it's UL!). Second, they have my SL Intro To World Religions course listed at the very bottom ("Other Courses") as 3 hours of "REL-405" but with a "*NE" notation which, according to the key, means "non-course equivalency". Since it shows 3.00 S.H. I assume it just means that the course is worth 3 hours, there's just nowhere to put it.

The only place I lack credits now is in the Criminal Justice area. What are the odds of getting the Substance Abuse DSST moved to CJ and the World Religions course moved to electives? And how would I go about getting it changed?

There's an (800) number on the evaluation for questions, but I'm hoping you smart folks on the forum can arm me with some knowledge before I chat with anyone at the school. Especially since I've read so many posts about advisers giving erroneous information.

Thanks!

Don't panic.
As soon as you get your gen eds full with a lower level social science, your substance abuse will move (assuming it qualifies as an UL core in your major- I don't know)
Also, the only reason a person would end up with an UL gen ed humanities (World Religions) is if you are 1) done with your gen ed humanities, and 2) gen ed electives and 3) free electives. If all of that is true, then you're full and there wasn't anywhere else to use it. If not, it was simply an error and you'll need to let them know.

[kb4ns1]

Yeah, everything is full except criminal justice. I'm hoping a quick phone call will take care of it!

[kb4ns1]

Well, I just called and talked to an adviser. I was told that the Sub Abuse DSST (SOS-303) can't go towards Criminal Justice core, but had I taken Drugs & Society (SOS-304) which I assume is a TECEP, it would. That makes zero sense to me. I feel compelled to try and appeal it or something seeing as how it's an UL course that very much coincides with criminal justice. What should my next step be?

[kb4ns1]

A funny tidbit here...

I was playing around with the Webadvisor thing in student services where you can see where you stand if you were to change your degree plan. I selected "AAS in Criminal Justice" and guess where it put my SOS-303 Substance Abuse credit! That's right... under Criminal Justice! Where I'm wanting them to put it for the BA in CJ.

[dfrecore]

I think you should probably appeal this. It's better to get it in writing than from an Advisor on the phone. There's a place where you can request a change like that, just do it. They are usually pretty quick, and it actually goes to the CJ department rather than general advising.

Religions being UL doesn't matter much, as only courses in your Area of Study really need to be UL. And that doesn't qualify. I guess at EC and COSC where you need more UL courses, and all over the place, it matters, but not at TESU.

[johnjaxs]

I think you should probably appeal this. It's better to get it in writing than from an Advisor on the phone. There's a place where you can request a change like that, just do it. They are usually pretty quick, and it actually goes to the CJ department rather than general advising.

Religions being UL doesn't matter much, as only courses in your Area of Study really need to be UL. And that doesn't qualify. I guess at EC and COSC where you need more UL courses, and all over the place, it matters, but not at TESU.

Yup, that is why I prefer e-mail. Talking on the phone can get you a quick answer, but e-mail is in writing and can usually be binding.

[kb4ns1]

I think you should probably appeal this. It's better to get it in writing than from an Advisor on the phone. There's a place where you can request a change like that, just do it. They are usually pretty quick, and it actually goes to the CJ department rather than general advising.

I think I will do that. The advisor I spoke with on the phone admitted she wasn't a CJ advisor and placed me on hold to "go check on it." I think I will setup an appointment with an advisor to actually start planning where to go from where I am now. With any luck, they'll set me up with an advisor familiar with CJ (can't imagine that they wouldn't) and that advisor will make the necessary changes. If not, I will appeal it.

Religions being UL doesn't matter much, as only courses in your Area of Study really need to be UL. And that doesn't qualify. I guess at EC and COSC where you need more UL courses, and all over the place, it matters, but not at TESU.

Right. I wasn't worried about World Religions being UL - I took that just for a Gen. Ed. elective. The course I'm worried about being UL is Substance Abuse. That's why I'm wanting it placed under CJ.

[davewill]

Make an email request before doing anything else. You just can't trust TESU's advising over the phone. I'm pretty confident it won't just "magically" move when you take more GenEd. They need to move it now, or tell you why not (so you can appeal).

[kb4ns1]

Make an email request before doing anything else. You just can't trust TESU's advising over the phone. I'm pretty confident it won't just "magically" move when you take more GenEd. They need to move it now, or tell you why not (so you can appeal).

Gotcha. To whom should I send the email? academicadvising@tesc.edu or...?