Hanna Clayton plans to graduate in three years, but after having trouble registering for upper-level English classes, she’s starting to stress about whether that will happen.
Clayton, a 19-year-old UF English sophomore, hasn’t been able to enroll in any English classes this semester. By the time it was her turn to register, all of the classes were full.
“You can’t deny someone their education if they’re paying for it,” she said.
Clayton’s not the only one. English majors have issues securing spots in upper-level courses, often settling for classes they don’t want — or not being able to register altogether.
John Cech, the associate chair and undergraduate coordinator of the UF English Department, is all too familiar with students’ gripes about the limited courses, having received many a midnight email to get into crucial classes. But with limited resources, he said, his hands are tied.
For Clayton, difficulty registering for classes has forced her to reconsider her major. She has only been able to enroll in one upper-level English course during her time at UF.
“I love English just too much to let it go,” Clayton said. “I’m hoping it gets better at some point.”
Cech said the department needs more faculty, which would open up more classes. The 2008 financial crisis hit Florida’s education hard, and the department is still recovering, with less money for additional instructors.
“When you have a limited number of faculty it just limits everything you can do,” Cech said.
Dealing with limited courses has made Jordan Donohue, a 21-year-old UF English senior, lose faith in UF.
“It makes me feel like the English department isn’t a priority for the University of Florida,” she said.
Cech said in the past, it did look as if Florida was more focused on STEM majors, but recently, UF President Kent Fuchs and Provost Joseph Glover have encouraged development of the humanities.
Cech said the department added a new faculty member this year and hopes to add three more next year.
“Things are getting better, and we look forward to being able to help everyone with this problem, everyone who has this problem, get through it.”
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