Aleta Miada (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

GRADUATION CREDIT

Following last-minute course credit issue, TRU student recommends graduation double-check

Jul 21, 2020 | 5:09 PM

KAMLOOPS — After recently finding out she was missing some courses to graduate, a fourth-year student at Thompson Rivers University is hoping future students can avoid similar inconveniences.

When Aleta Miada finished classes in April this year, she thought she was set to graduate with a business and economics degree.

However in May, she says she was contacted by the university about two courses she’d taken that were found to be invalid. Previously, Miada says she was told she was on track to graduate.

“They just said there was an oversight on my transcripts and files from 2016 when I moved from the University of Manitoba,” Miada explains. “So they just said there was an oversight, they apologized for that, and they just said I had to take the classes.”

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Miada is an international student and was hoping to find work in B.C. after graduation. She had to apply for a study permit extension for the fall semester and now she’s also preparing for the extra cost of staying in Kamloops longer than planned.

Miada says she was already able to take one of the two courses needed online but the other was only offered in the fall semester.

“You’re probably looking at roughly $2,800-to-$3,000 for the two classes. One class for an international student costs about $1,400,” she says. “That’s materials and everything included, so it’s quite a lot of money.”

Dr. Mike Henry, the Dean of TRU’s School of Business and Economics, didn’t speak to this incident specifically for student privacy reasons. But he does note that this sort of misunderstanding has happened in the past.

Henry says the school tries to work with stuck students but ultimately it’s up to the students to be sure their classes will count towards their degree.

Between remote, online learning and expanded programming through TRU’s Open Learning option, Henry says there are plenty of ways for a student to get the courses they need.

“One of the good things in business is all of our courses are online. And with all the undergrad and post-baccalaureate courses, you can start the first of every month,” he explains. “So if you find this out in the beginning of March, you can start a course on the first of March online.”

TRU accepts transfer credits from hundreds of universities but they have to meet requirements of the equivalent course. And for graduation credit, Henry says it needs to fit the specific program.

“We go out of our way to work with students, to reach out to students to say if you have transfer credit, apply first semester,” he says, “and if you’re not sure, don’t make assumptions until you get notification that the program and university not only recognizes the course but it can actually apply to your program.”

Miada was in touch with student advisors and says she knows mistakes can happen, particularly when reviewing transfer credits for courses. But she hopes in the future, the school could have earlier reviews of graduation applications.

“So if I’m supposed to finish in April, if they can try and look at my credentials before April so that they notify students well in advance what’s missing, and what’s not. That will help us avoid this situation,” she says. “I wouldn’t be stuck in this situation had I known prior to completing school in April.”