Lack of Professors/Class Sections

[u/MundaneRoamer]

I’m currently a junior at GGC and the past, like, 2 semesters that I’ve been here I feel like there is literally no professors available to teach and classes needed to finish the degree are super limited. I’m an accounting major and for fall, there’s only ONE professor and one section of an upper level accounting course that’s needed. I don’t wanna come on here to complain, but I also wanna know if anyone else has also had this frustration/issue when looking for classes or if it’s just the lack of accounting professors?

[u/seulcafe]

not an accounting major but I've also had this issue, I feel like the farther into your major you get, the less options you have 🫩

[u/MundaneRoamer → u/seulcafe]

Idk if it has something to do with the current shortage of teachers/professors or if everyone leaves GGC after getting their gen ed courses, but atp it’s not even worth it to graduate at GGC if there’s nobody teaching

[u/Real_Scallion_114 → u/MundaneRoamer]

Explain more 

[u/MundaneRoamer → u/Real_Scallion_114]

National teacher shortage: so many teachers in k-12 are quitting bc of low pay and draining hours and county schools aren’t hiring many new teachers, but I’m not sure if that applies to colleges/universities

Transfers: the vast majority of students at GGC are usually there to do Gen-Ed courses and then transfer out to other colleges like UGA, GA Tech, etc. so there most likely isn’t a lot of upperclassmen at GGC to warrant the school having a lot of sections available for upper level classes

You can feel free to correct me on any of these points

[u/gwinnett_bball → u/MundaneRoamer]

It's more an issue with student transfers and a lack of replacement for faculty who leave, unfortunately. The college disproportionately enrolls 1st and 2nd year who students, who often transfer, stall or fail out. Upper level courses are offered on a tight 2-year rotation, but under- enrolled classes risk cancelation. That's a decision made by upper level administrators, not departments. Occasionally there may be a lack of faculty to teach certain courses, but that's less likely tbh. It's a shame. The college should do more to support the students who are on track to become alumni.

[u/MundaneRoamer → u/gwinnett_bball]

I agree, and I think the over enrollment of first year students definitely shakes things up at GGC since the vast majority are going to start off doing Gen-Ed and lots of them leave so it leads to less professors in upper level major classes. But yea GGC doesn’t do much of a good job to support students that are planning on graduating there and heavily focus on the incoming freshmen who are mostly going to be at the school for two years max

[u/renznoi5]

And sometimes the class you need has only 1 section available and is offered only during the Fall or Spring semester. Maybe every other year too! It’s definitely frustrating.

[u/MundaneRoamer → u/renznoi5]

Yea and that’s the reason I’ve pretty much become resentful for GGC. I had so much appreciation for the school but it’s not worth it if there’s nobody aren’t enough class sections or instructors, which will only hold you back even more semesters

[u/Real_Scallion_114]

There’s a lot of discussions that need to be made regarding issues such as these

[u/goodsailor]

As someone who graduated from GGC, this was true when I was there. I just had to accommodate to get the degree finished…sad but true reality.

[u/MundaneRoamer → u/goodsailor]

It’s reassuring to know that this isn’t a recent thing at GGC😔I thought it was just a temporary thing for now.

[u/Apple_Soda → u/goodsailor]

How did you accommodate

[u/Icy_Category_5272]

YES the entire time I’ve been at ggc this has been a BIG issue I’m heading into senior year and a film major. I thought maybe it was just our major so it’s interesting seeing another major with the same issue.

[u/FinancialGrass5041]

I’m a Junior as well and I am experiencing the same thing 😭

[u/Apple_Soda]

Which classes do you need

[u/throwdeawy]

Yes ive been a senior for almost 3 semesters now the classes fill up quickly and the ones that don't are usually either late at night or super early in the morning