Written by: Emma Rodriguez and Lesieli Savelio
Due to a lack of enrichment credits, some students at Southern Adventist University were unable to pre-register for Winter 2024 semester courses when pre-registration opened for their respective class standings last semester.
Although this is a longstanding policy, several individuals expressed to the Accent frustration in regard to the policy’s effect on their academic lives. Others, however, defended the rule.
Last semester, the university’s Student Development office sent an email to students who did not meet the number of credits necessary to be considered current. The email, with the subject line “Worship Update/Hold,” informed recipients of the consequential impact on their pre-registration.
The email stated, “As per policy, your pre-registration for classes Winter 2024 semester has been placed on hold because you have chosen not to attend chapels and Convocations during the first half of this semester. This hold will be lifted only after you are current.”
The email included a chart demonstrating the number of credits students, divided by class standing and housing status, should have during each of the remaining weeks of the fall semester to be considered current. According to Dennis Negrón, vice president for Student Development, this is the first semester his office has sent this chart to students. Student Development is trying to work more consciously to avoid fining students, he said. As detailed in the Student Handbook, students who do not meet enrichment requirements will face consequences, including fees of $5 per credit missed.
In an interview with the Accent, Negrón said this policy is not new and is mentioned in the Student Handbook. The Student Development office has enforced the policy before. He added that he emphasized the enrichment credit policy and its potential consequences at the freshman and returning student orientations.
“I think it helps cultivate responsibility, which is good, because if someone doesn’t get their necessary credits, then they have to pay for it by not registering.”
“We’ve been doing it for years,” he said. “Students don’t read the handbook.”
The handbook states: “Students who are short more than 10 credits 2 semesters in a row or who are more than 50% short in any one semester are ineligible…to pre-register for classes for the following semester without speaking to the Vice President for Student Development first.”
The execution of this policy has received mixed reviews from students. Some told the Accent they believe they should have the freedom to choose when to acquire their worship credits; others said the policy improves time management skills.
Sierra Anderson, senior nursing major, said attending Vespers is part of life at a Christian university and also a good way to build friendships.
“While credits can be stressful and a pain to complete sometimes, I believe they are an important part of keeping our campus community involved and Christ-focused,” she said. “I appreciate how hard Southern works to make the programs interesting and well done.”
Lauren Ogle, sophomore biology major, said she believes the policy is a positive thing because it’s not a good idea for students to procrastinate on obtaining their enrichment credits until the end of the semester.
“I think it helps cultivate responsibility, which is good, because if someone doesn’t get their necessary credits, then they have to pay for it by not registering,” Ogle said. “It may be a bit harsh, but it’s really not hard to get all the necessary credits, as long as one is consistent.”
Anish Bachan, sophomore business management major, said he was directly affected by the policy. Several classes he needed to take this semester filled up while he was unable to register last semester, he told the Accent.
“My experience with registering for classes was bad. I was able to register a week before finals, when my account finally got taken off the hold,” he said. “I don’t like it because I thought I had a choice in when I get my credits, even if it’s at the end of the semester.”
“A hold on registering for classes should not be a consequence for not getting your credits on time. These are two unrelated events. And it causes more stress, and students lose the opportunity to get into the classes they need.”
Kaitlyn Vasquez, junior biology major, said she was unable to meet the enrichment requirements because of her work and class schedule.
“Students should feel happy and willing to go to these events, but in the end, many feel stressed and forced to make it to as many as they can, while also juggling a lot of other responsibilities,” she said. “A hold on registering for classes should not be a consequence for not getting your credits on time. These are two unrelated events. And it causes more stress, and students lose the opportunity to get into the classes they need.”
The Student Handbook states that students can apply for enrichment credit reductions under certain circumstances, such as working an on-campus job that cannot close during Convocation.
Josh Nerona, junior business administration major, said the policy did not affect him but did affect his friends. He wishes Student Development would communicate things with the student body better.
“Not knowing this [policy] was very problematic for my friends because they weren’t able to register for their classes, therefore risking their spot whenever the next wave of students could register,” he said. “Communication is the issue.”
Angelina Jones, senior social work major, said this policy has affected her and other students she knows.
“I work as a student adviser with First Year Experience, and I have had students come in who can’t register because of this new rule,” she said. “It is inconvenient for everyone involved.”
Negrón said that gathering together to worship is an important part of campus life at a Christian university, and the policy of withholding class registration from those who are not staying up-to-date on enrichment credits and others like it help maintain Southern’s spiritual culture.
“It’s not so much that lots of students were falling behind,” Negrón said. “But what we know about behavior is that even though students will agree that they need to go, [that] they should go to chapels, worship and things like that, they won’t go voluntarily.”
Negrón said attendance at enrichment events, such as Vespers and convocations, during the 2020-2021 school year helps prove that behavioral fact. During the Fall 2020 semester, the university suspended enrichment credit requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and during the Winter 2021 semester, students were required to receive only half the regular amount of enrichment credits.
“But what we know about behavior is that even though students will agree that they need to go, [that] they should go to chapels, worship and things like that, they won’t go voluntarily.”
“Right now, we have 1,600 students going to Vespers. When it was voluntary, 200 students [went],” Negrón said, referencing the Fall 2020 semester. “We have over 1,000 students going to convocation. During that [voluntary] time, 20 students went.”
