The pros and cons of U1

Is U1 really worth it?

LIAM BRENNAN

As orientation preparations are finalized, many newcomers will be getting set to purchase books for their courses and be met with astounding prices for classes they don’t really need to take. Welcome to University 1.

Whether students like it or not, there are certain requirements that must be attained in order to declare one’s major and join a faculty in the coming years. While it would seem practical to have all students achieving the basic requirements for their respective degrees, many students both new and old look at the university 1 program as a waste of their time and money.

When entering the University of Manitoba, all students are enrolled in a mandatory program called University 1. The University 1 curriculum requires a student to complete two distinct courses, one being a three credit hour class that meets the “M” math requisite, and the other a three credit hour class designated with the “W” written component.

As harmless as these requirements may seem, problems arise when students who do not intend on pursuing degrees in arts or sciences are forced to register for these classes and pay the according fees. Many people, including this author, feel that the university puts these requirements in place so it can snatch every last penny of its students’ money. As a typical three credit hour class comes in around $100 per hour, forcing a student to take two courses to meet these requirements costs them an extra $600, and that’s assuming they pass each on the first attempt.

Having recently graduated with a degree in English, I find that the mathematics requirement was entirely unnecessary. Being a student in the faculty of arts and pursuing a degree in English was my primary focus and goal in university. So why then should I, one of the least mathematically and computer inclined people in the world, be forced to struggle through one of these courses for no benefit to my degree or myself?

The same goes for anyone pursuing a degree in mathematics having to struggle through an English course to gain his or her written requirement. If a student knows that he or she is not going to be taking any math, science, or computer related courses in the future, why are they forced to do so in our first year?

Surely there must be some benefit of this program. Let’s take a second a look at the pros and cons of University 1.

On the pro side, having these requirements helps better prepare new students for courses in each respective faculty in the future. Taking a computer course was valuable for me as it did help to increase my knowledge of certain programs and operating systems. Also, beginner courses in these fields are traditionally quite effortless for most individuals looking to earn a degree in that field. The university believes that by exposing students to a wide variety of courses and faculties in their first year, those that might be unsure of what to study will be able to decide more easily. While this a very positive idea and one that is extremely beneficial to some students, why is every student then forced to explore five different faculties in University 1?

Indeed, the cons of University 1 far outweigh its benefits. Students are forced to register for courses that have no bearing on their future degrees whatsoever. This means the students have to pay the designated fee for the class, purchase the books related to the course, and actually pass the class to gain the requirement. While many students will find these introductory courses quite uncomplicated and stress-free, those students that have a poor background in the subject will often find it too complicated to comprehend; which in my case, led to repeated attempts to pass the course throughout my four years in university.

Also on the con side, these requirements tend to restrict entry into different faculties. Aside from a very small percentage of students, anyone that has not satisfied his or her written or mathematical requirement at the end of their first year still has to do so in order to change faculties. This can lead to complications when attempting to register for courses in the future and declaration of one’s major.

Finally, perhaps the biggest downside to University 1 is the meaningless orientation class that each new student is forced to attend prior to the start of the school year. These meetings would be a fine idea if they actually provided students with information that could not otherwise be found in their course syllabi, but this is not the case. For some unknown reason, students must be in attendance at one of these seminars or they will be unable to enter University 1.

Ultimately, the courses are factored into your degree anyways as the hours are required to graduate from every faculty in the University. So it is comforting to know that your struggles are not entirely useless. But if students were allowed to take any introductory courses they so pleased in their first year, everyone could avoid subject areas in which their skills are not so sharp. This would save many students a lot of valuable time and money along the way, and give them a better chance at not having to repeat a course the following year.

Liam Brennan is a Winnipeg writer.