DARS got you down?
Don't freak out if your DARS says you can't graduate; it's only a guide for advisement
Angela Reid
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: News
How many of your have ever had a problem with DARS? Maybe your major/minor combination was invalid or the actual report was just too confusing. Well, there's good news. A new program is on the way, but until then, certification secretary Karen Gregg has some advice for struggling students.
"DARS is a guide to work in conjunction with students reading their catalogue, getting a checksheet from their department, and working with their advisor," Gregg said. Since each college at JSU can organize DARS reports differently, it's easy for students to be confused.
Gregg suggests that students divide the report in to 3 parts and tackle a "little part each day so it's not so overwhelming." First, students should look at general information and core curriculum, especially transfer and on-campus hours. To graduate, students must have 64 hours at a 4-year school. Remedial class hours will appear in the on-campus hour count but will not count toward graduation. Students must have 128 hours at 100 level or above. 52 of those hours must be 300-400 level.
Second, look through the major/minor requirements. Courses listed as "IN-P" or "In-Progress" include classes students are currently enrolled in and pre-registered for.
Finally, DARS is a good reminder of other graduation requirements such as the CBASE, ECE and residency requirements.
Some students think that every requirement on their DARS report must be completed before they can apply for graduation, but DARS does not determine any student's eligibility for graduation. Registrar Kelly Osterbind said," The DARS are for advisement only." A certification secretary in each college determines if a student can graduate. DARS is only one of the tools they use.
Gregg encourages all students to talk to their advisor if they have a question about their DARS report.
Many of the problems students encounter come from the program itself. The computer program looks for numbers only. If a class number is changed or if a student is allowed to substitute a class, DARS will not recognize the alternate class. If a class does not appear where it should, check under the elective listing.
DARS was "cutting edge when we bought it, but now the company that sold it to us does not even service it," said Osterbind. Instead, JSU is hoping to implement a new system, called Banner, by February of 2007. "Banner will change the look and extend the options for students," said Osterbind. The new system is an entire computer system including hardware and software. It is now used in over 1,500 colleges including all of Georgia and most schools in Alabama.
"DARS is a guide to work in conjunction with students reading their catalogue, getting a checksheet from their department, and working with their advisor," Gregg said. Since each college at JSU can organize DARS reports differently, it's easy for students to be confused.
Gregg suggests that students divide the report in to 3 parts and tackle a "little part each day so it's not so overwhelming." First, students should look at general information and core curriculum, especially transfer and on-campus hours. To graduate, students must have 64 hours at a 4-year school. Remedial class hours will appear in the on-campus hour count but will not count toward graduation. Students must have 128 hours at 100 level or above. 52 of those hours must be 300-400 level.
Second, look through the major/minor requirements. Courses listed as "IN-P" or "In-Progress" include classes students are currently enrolled in and pre-registered for.
Finally, DARS is a good reminder of other graduation requirements such as the CBASE, ECE and residency requirements.
Some students think that every requirement on their DARS report must be completed before they can apply for graduation, but DARS does not determine any student's eligibility for graduation. Registrar Kelly Osterbind said," The DARS are for advisement only." A certification secretary in each college determines if a student can graduate. DARS is only one of the tools they use.
Gregg encourages all students to talk to their advisor if they have a question about their DARS report.
Many of the problems students encounter come from the program itself. The computer program looks for numbers only. If a class number is changed or if a student is allowed to substitute a class, DARS will not recognize the alternate class. If a class does not appear where it should, check under the elective listing.
DARS was "cutting edge when we bought it, but now the company that sold it to us does not even service it," said Osterbind. Instead, JSU is hoping to implement a new system, called Banner, by February of 2007. "Banner will change the look and extend the options for students," said Osterbind. The new system is an entire computer system including hardware and software. It is now used in over 1,500 colleges including all of Georgia and most schools in Alabama.