Troublesome 12-Credit Cap for UC-N Students

It has been a long-standing tradition at University College-Newark for its students to take no more than four courses (12 credits), and an optional lab science.  After all, UC-N's student body is, and has been, comprised of working adults who rarely take more than 12 credits.
   
The UC-N student body is also divided into two parts: the regular student body, and students with the Newark Academic Transitions Program (NATP).  These students applied to NCAS, but did not have a strong enough academic background for admission and were in turn enrolled in UC-N.  NATP students are given time – typically one year – to prove themselves, and are provided with academic counseling all the while.
   
But there is dissent amongst the ranks.  In an April 4th speech at the Livingston Student Center, Kevin Wild – Chair of the UC-N SGA Internal Affairs Committee – said, “University College-Newark is the only college anywhere across the country which limits its students to only 12 credits per semester.”  Wild came to this conclusion after examining the procedures and policies of over 50 institutes, including all of New Jersey's public colleges.  He then went on to say that “financially, this puts a University College-Newark student at a significant disadvantage...to complete a Bachelor's Degree a total of five and a half years would be necessary, versus the more traditional four years elsewhere.”
   
Mubarak Guy, UC-N SGA President, agrees.  “In reference to the 12 credit restriction, I think that it is a crime towards University College students because not only are we able to take less credits, but we are also paying more per credit than any other student at Rutgers.  In addition, the increase in tuition may cause students to drop out,” he said.