By April Biswell
Apache Staff

"See a counselor before registering."

That's what college officials are recommending to insure students don't face delays as a result of questions about prerequisites.

For the first time, the college's computer system is checking to see that students have fulfilled requirements before taking specific courses. Any student who has not met a course prerequisite is not being allowed to register for that course.

"Earlier, students might ignore prerequisites and not be caught," said Dr. Harriet Custer, vice president for academic affairs.

She said some instructors did check. Math and writing placements were also checked manually, Custer said.

Registration switched to the Colleague computer system a year ago, but the prerequisite check has been turned on now because the college divisions had to review all of the prerequisites, Custer said.

"We had to change some of the prerequisites and convert them into course equivalents," she said, explaining that the computer system only recognizes required courses.

The software also only recognizes prerequisite courses taken at IVCC, and that's why seeing a counselor is important. With proof from a high school or college transcript that a student has taken a prerequisite, the counselor will sign the student's registration form and the student will be allowed to register.

For courses that require instructor permission, students need to see the instructor, or if unavailable, the division chair, before attempting to register, Custer said. Prerequisites met by students who have not been enrolled at IVCC recently will also not be in the computer system and will require a counselor's signature.

Registration, which began Nov. 6, has gone smoothly so far, according to the Director of Admissions and Records Kelly Conrad. Only a few students have been prevented from registering from certain courses, and those students have been sent to the Counseling Center for prerequisite checks and signatures.

"We get them right back in here and put them in the (computer) system," Conrad said.

Custer said the electronic prerequisite check is for the students' benefit.