Photo Credit: Emily Tyler
Many Arkansas Tech students have had to scramble to adjust their schedules after receiving last-minute emails notifying them that a class they signed up for was canceled before the start of the semester.
University leaders say they try to limit cancellations, but factors like low enrollment, faculty availability, and degree requirements play into which courses stay on the schedule and which ones are removed.
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Aldolfo Santos said the university generally expects at least 10 students in undergraduate courses before they move forward. Still, he noted that enrollment isn’t the only factor.
“Courses that have graduating seniors who need a particular class to graduate may run under-enrolled, giving those students the opportunity to graduate,” Santos said.
He added that unique circumstances, such as courses tied to learning communities or unusual scheduling needs, can also justify keeping a class open.
Dr. Jeff Cass, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, said decisions in his college depend on a mix of academic and logistical factors.
Each undergraduate class must have a minimum of 10 students.
“These are the minimum for the university to break even in terms of teaching costs and revenues,” Cass said.
“We look at whether other sections are available, how a cancellation might affect faculty teaching loads, and whether the course will come around again in a future semester,” Cass said.
Cass added his college works to ensure cancellations don’t derail students’ progress toward graduation. When needed, students may be placed in another section, offered course substitutions, or given the chance to complete an independent study.
Santos echoed that priority, noting that faculty and administrators often go out of their way to help students. In some cases, professors will even agree to teach an under-enrolled course or create a one-on-one option so a student can graduate on schedule.
“Canceling classes is something we rarely want to do,” Santos said. “We know how disruptive this can be to our students’ lives.”
Both administrators pointed to pre-registration as one of the best tools for reducing cancellations. Early enrollment gives departments a clearer picture of demand and helps them adjust schedules before the semester begins.
“I should stress the importance of students registering during the preregistration period so that courses have the best chance of not being canceled,” Santos said.
Though cancellations are sometimes unavoidable, ATU officials said they remain committed to finding a balance between managing enrollment numbers and supporting students.
“We do our best to ensure that all students in Arts and Humanities get what they need, when they need it,” Cass added.
