In the ever-changing realm of higher education, an increasing number of students are turning to transient courses to navigate the challenges of limited course availability at FAMU.
Gabriella Ekechi and Ryanne Hill shared their first-hand experiences with transient courses, which are courses taken online at another public institution in Florida to satisfy necessary degree requirements at FAMU.
Ekechi, a pre-pharmacy major at FAMU from Tampa, faced a common obstacle for students enrolled in transient classes —essential courses for her degree were consistently full before she could secure a spot.
To address this, she opted for transient courses during the summers of 2022 and 2023, as well as the fall of 2022 at Hillsborough Community College.
“I was informed to enroll in transient courses because the classes I needed were always full before I could register, which was not due to a lack on my part but something beyond my control that the institution needs to fix,” Ekechi said.
Her words echo the frustration felt by numerous students, emphasizing the need for FAMU to adapt to the growing number of students on its campus.
Despite the challenges, Ekechi found relief in the fact that the courses were fully online, providing a convenient option. Her familiarity with Hillsborough Community College added another layer of comfort to her transient course experience.
Though there were some issues, such as having to pay out of pocket for the courses, Ekechi’s overall sentiment was that the transient course experience was acceptable if it meant meeting her necessary degree requirements.
Hill, a third-year pre-physical therapy major from Jacksonville, Florida, faced a set of challenges in her pursuit of transient courses. Frustrated with the struggle to secure essential courses while also looking to improve on her previous grade, she pursued a chemistry class at Palm Beach State.
“I was frustrated with FAMU on the process of being approved for transient courses,” Hill said. However, she noted a positive shift in her encounter with Palm Beach State. “Communication was much quicker, which made a lot of things easier to get done.”
Hill’s experience introduces a nuanced perspective on the transient course system, emphasizing the variations in administrative procedures that FAMU can improve upon.
While challenges exist, her interaction with Palm Beach State’s staff and professors demonstrates the impact of effective communication in enhancing the overall transient course experience.
With the trend of FAMU students taking transient courses on the rise, it seems imperative for FAMU to tackle these challenges and prioritize the academic success of its students.