The college overhauled the registration process for redeeming non-tuition credits through co-curricular organizations this fall after deciding the previous system lacked accountability.
Under the new system, students must register on emConnect to receive one tuition-free credit. Faculty advisors must also provide a syllabus detailing various requirements for earning credit to interested students. In the past, organization leaders, rather than faculty, recorded credit-interested students. Then, the registrar’s office contacted the students to confirm they completed the credit requirements.
Jason Meier, director of the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership, said the old process ran on an honor system, which proved detrimental to students who worked for credit but did not receive it due to miscommunication.
Meier said modifications were necessary to enrich students’ academic experience of the organizations while also making sure students get credit for work they complete.
“There wasn’t an efficient way to differentiate the ones who worked to earn the credit from those who didn’t,” Meier said. “For every student that received a syllabus, there was one who didn’t.”
Requirements for receiving credit remain unchanged, according to Meier. The organization’s advisor plans requirements around what they feel academically enriches the members.
“The purpose of co-curriculars is to make students curious, and this change is intended to create a more hands-on experience for the members and aid them in building strong relationships with Emerson faculty,” Meier said.
Jack Casey, faculty advisor for WERS, said compared to the old system, this modification requires more advisor involvement.
“I am unsure of the gravity of this change and how it will affect the workload of the advisors,” Casey said. “But we will do everything in our ability to comply with the requests of the college.”
Sophomore Destiny Pineda, director of education for The Emerson Channel, said she and her members find the extra forms and added layer of bureaucratic procedure confusing and irritating.
“It feels extremely unnecessary and makes the process more complicated than it has to be,” Pineda said. “I personally have to go through several people just to get the names of the people who are simply ‘interested’ in receiving credit.”
Kassiani Mamalakis, executive producer for the EVVY Awards, said the change makes it easier to ensure active members earn credit.
“There isn’t a big difference for us,” Mamalakis said. “In the past, credits have been easy to obtain and have been as simple as putting your name on a list. This way, the people who do put in the work will be the ones to end up with a credit.”
