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Confusion is what the conversion from quarter to semester system has brought to CSUB students, especially in terms of graduation checks.
Graduation checks for those graduating in the fall of 2016 were due before spring of 2016. Then, not only did the students graduating in the spring of 2017 have to file their grad check a year before it would be normally due but an additional $15 fee increase was established.
Prior to the conversion, students turned in their grad checks two quarters before their expected graduation check. Now, students have to turn them in two semesters before the deadline.
According to Associate Vice President Jacqueline Mimms, the graduation check deadlines changed due to the quarter to semester conversion in effort to let students know ahead of time if something is wrong with their graduation check so they still graduate when expected.
“We have to prepare students now because if they’re missing anything, we have to let them know now,” said Mimms. “They’re not going to be able to graduate.”
However, Jonathan Porchi, 20, a business major does not feel prepared for graduation checks.
“I don’t know how they work or when I’m supposed to turn them in,” said Porchi who expects to graduate in the spring of 2018.
“I don’t think they give us enough information,” said Daniela Madrigal, a biology major.
Mimms, however, said that students are contacted by their advisers and are sent emails to let them know of the deadline.
As far as the graduation fee increase, Mimms said that instead of having four $55 terms, they will now have three $70 terms. She said that the fee students pay goes towards the staff that do the graduation checks.
The fee has steadily increased over the past nine years. According to the 2007-2009 catalog, the grad check fee was $25. It then increased in the 2009-2011 catalog to $40. For 2016, it went up to $55, and now in 2017, it has gone up to $70.
Mimms said that students will actually pay less since over three terms the amount equals $210 rather than $220 over four terms. However, for an individual student it is $15 more that he or she has to pay.
“I think it’s unfair,” said Yvon Valdez, 22, a biology major regarding the fee increased.
“I’m not anticipating any increase,” said Mimms regarding whether an increase in 2018 would be possible. “I want students to know that we are trying to help them.”
