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Well, Tuesday holiday break ended, and all faculty had to report back to the community college. We have to be here all this week. Classes start Monday.
Open Registration is continuing all this week for the Spring Semester. This is the worst time of year for registration because we get all the late comers who didn't bother to register early, or who applied for enrollment at the 11th hour.
Last year, they put all the faculty in the Pit: a large open computer lab in the tech building. That was a nightmare because we'd get students who wanted advising on majors we knew nothing about. This year, they split us up by division (I'm in Health Sciences) which is much better. It was still 2 hours of hell yesterday and today.
Some highlights:
Miss Stinky: this is a gal who graduated from high school this year and decided to take the Fall off. She sat in my personal space (which I loathe), and STANK of tobacco. It was all I could do not to gag.
Me: OK, so what can I register you for?
MS: I'm going for nursing.
Me: OK. Have you taken your placement tests?
MS: Yes. I can take regular English and math.
So I try to register her for your basic college freshman english and math courses. I asked her if she had any preferences as far as campus or times. She said no.
Me: OK, I've got 8am MWF or 6pm Thursday sections open. *note: most of the sections were closed*
Miss Stinky hemmed and hawed over her choices, which were almost all early morning or evening classes as I am trying not to visibly retch. Fortunately, her boyfriend came to my rescue. "Take that one." "That one's good." Clearly, he didn't want to waste time any more than I did! I just registered her for the ones he picked out since she wouldn't make a decision.
I want the G campus
We have 4 campuses, and will be opening a 5th in the next year or two (we're one of the largest community colleges in the state). Common courses like your basic English, Math, Pysch, and other requirements for popular programs are offered at all four campuses, fewer at the smaller ones. I work on the Main (and largest) campus.
I go to sign up Gal 2 for classes. The course she wants has open sections on the AC, HC, and MC campuses. She wants the GC campus.
"I'm sorry, those sections are closed. We have sections on the AC, HC, and MC campuses."
"I don't want to go there. Can't you find something at GC?" Lather, rinse, repeat. *sigh* I get her registered for her course. We move on to the next. Same story; no sections at the GC campus. I tell her what's available.
"Isn't there anything at GC?"
Placement Test Woes
A student comes in wanting to be registered. She has no paperwork with her: no catalog, worksheet, placement scores, nothing. She wants to register for math and english.
"OK, I need your placement scores."
Student: I retook the placement test this week. But I don't remember the scores.
So I call up her academic record. It tells me her scores. I can place her in developmental math 3 and english 3.
Student: Those aren't the right scores. I retook the test and got a 97.
Me: *doubting this, since that's not a possible score* well, these are the scores in the system.
Student: I printed out a certificate. Mr. oh I can't remember his name (offers a name nothing remotely resembling anyone at the testing center) said I just needed to print out the certificate.
Me: Well, did you bring it with you.
Student: No. But he said all I needed is the certificate.
Me: Well, since you didn't bring anything with you, there's not much I can do for you.
I then send her to a faculty member with higher privileges in the computer system--she can override things if necessary to get the student registered. KC spends over an HOUR with this one student before she is finally able to get the student to print out the certificates and finds out she did not actually retake the placement test, but took a practice test before you take the placement test.
KC: Panacea, I'm not registering anyone else you ever send to me, ever again.
Me:
Cool Couple
This couple was really cool. Husband and wife, late 30's early 40's, kids just off to college who've decided they want to go to nursing school together.
Wife: we've wanted to do this for awhile, but the only thing I'm wondering is, did I wait too long?
Me: Oh no! We graduated a gal three years ago who was 63 when she finished. I still run into her in the hospital, she's loving what she's doing.
Wife: *beams*
Registering the both of them was a snap. All they wanted was to take as many of their classes together as they could (wife needed a remedial math, husband didn't). They understood they were registering at the last minute and had to take the dregs. I got them in and out in 10 minutes the both of them. Wish they were all that easy.
They told me they'd send it three weeks ago!
Finally, there was the gal who showed up with no paperwork. Hadn't taken the placement tests. Nothing was in the system. When I told her I couldn't register her without that information, she said, "The high school said they'd send my transcripts right away!"
Me: When was that?
Her: Three weeks ago!
She left in a huff, complaining loudly all the way. Sorry, kid. It's your responsibility to make sure you get what you need before you just show up.
My shift ended at noon. I was out the door on the dot.
Open Registration is continuing all this week for the Spring Semester. This is the worst time of year for registration because we get all the late comers who didn't bother to register early, or who applied for enrollment at the 11th hour.
Last year, they put all the faculty in the Pit: a large open computer lab in the tech building. That was a nightmare because we'd get students who wanted advising on majors we knew nothing about. This year, they split us up by division (I'm in Health Sciences) which is much better. It was still 2 hours of hell yesterday and today.
Some highlights:
Miss Stinky: this is a gal who graduated from high school this year and decided to take the Fall off. She sat in my personal space (which I loathe), and STANK of tobacco. It was all I could do not to gag.
Me: OK, so what can I register you for?
MS: I'm going for nursing.
Me: OK. Have you taken your placement tests?
MS: Yes. I can take regular English and math.
So I try to register her for your basic college freshman english and math courses. I asked her if she had any preferences as far as campus or times. She said no.
Me: OK, I've got 8am MWF or 6pm Thursday sections open. *note: most of the sections were closed*
Miss Stinky hemmed and hawed over her choices, which were almost all early morning or evening classes as I am trying not to visibly retch. Fortunately, her boyfriend came to my rescue. "Take that one." "That one's good." Clearly, he didn't want to waste time any more than I did! I just registered her for the ones he picked out since she wouldn't make a decision.
I want the G campus
We have 4 campuses, and will be opening a 5th in the next year or two (we're one of the largest community colleges in the state). Common courses like your basic English, Math, Pysch, and other requirements for popular programs are offered at all four campuses, fewer at the smaller ones. I work on the Main (and largest) campus.
I go to sign up Gal 2 for classes. The course she wants has open sections on the AC, HC, and MC campuses. She wants the GC campus.
"I'm sorry, those sections are closed. We have sections on the AC, HC, and MC campuses."
"I don't want to go there. Can't you find something at GC?" Lather, rinse, repeat. *sigh* I get her registered for her course. We move on to the next. Same story; no sections at the GC campus. I tell her what's available.
"Isn't there anything at GC?"
Placement Test Woes
A student comes in wanting to be registered. She has no paperwork with her: no catalog, worksheet, placement scores, nothing. She wants to register for math and english.
"OK, I need your placement scores."
Student: I retook the placement test this week. But I don't remember the scores.
So I call up her academic record. It tells me her scores. I can place her in developmental math 3 and english 3.
Student: Those aren't the right scores. I retook the test and got a 97.
Me: *doubting this, since that's not a possible score* well, these are the scores in the system.
Student: I printed out a certificate. Mr. oh I can't remember his name (offers a name nothing remotely resembling anyone at the testing center) said I just needed to print out the certificate.
Me: Well, did you bring it with you.
Student: No. But he said all I needed is the certificate.
Me: Well, since you didn't bring anything with you, there's not much I can do for you.
I then send her to a faculty member with higher privileges in the computer system--she can override things if necessary to get the student registered. KC spends over an HOUR with this one student before she is finally able to get the student to print out the certificates and finds out she did not actually retake the placement test, but took a practice test before you take the placement test.
KC: Panacea, I'm not registering anyone else you ever send to me, ever again.
Me:
Cool Couple
This couple was really cool. Husband and wife, late 30's early 40's, kids just off to college who've decided they want to go to nursing school together.
Wife: we've wanted to do this for awhile, but the only thing I'm wondering is, did I wait too long?
Me: Oh no! We graduated a gal three years ago who was 63 when she finished. I still run into her in the hospital, she's loving what she's doing.
Wife: *beams*
Registering the both of them was a snap. All they wanted was to take as many of their classes together as they could (wife needed a remedial math, husband didn't). They understood they were registering at the last minute and had to take the dregs. I got them in and out in 10 minutes the both of them. Wish they were all that easy.
They told me they'd send it three weeks ago!
Finally, there was the gal who showed up with no paperwork. Hadn't taken the placement tests. Nothing was in the system. When I told her I couldn't register her without that information, she said, "The high school said they'd send my transcripts right away!"
Me: When was that?
Her: Three weeks ago!
She left in a huff, complaining loudly all the way. Sorry, kid. It's your responsibility to make sure you get what you need before you just show up.
My shift ended at noon. I was out the door on the dot.
Did I try to bitch and complain about the classes/sections offered? Heck no, I know it was my fault. 
YUCK!
She wants to be a NURSE, yet she's obviously flunked Basic Hygiene 101: How Not To Stink Like A Fire In A Cigar Factory. 
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