RE: 1 or 2 semesters of FYE?

[Lynne Belcher <lrbelcher@saumag.edu>]

Christine,

I say don't give up without at least a good fight.  At Southern 
Arkansas University, our students take not only two semesters of first 
year composition but also two sememsters of sophomore world 
literature.  In the eight years I have been here, I have never heard 
any of my colleagues from other departments complain.  When we needed 
more hours for general education courses, we lowered the p.e. 
requirement.  Some schools have simply increased the number of 
required courses in their general education curriculum.

Maybe you should look at what courses are offered at the high schools 
from which your students come.  More than likely, those schools don't 
offer the writing courses that students need for their college and 
their professional careers.  

Our students also must pass a "rising" junior exam (CAAP), and if they 
don't pass, they must take another writing course.  

High school English courses have become so watered down over the last 
couple of decades or so that I'm surprised more colleges and 
universities don't require more writing and literature courses.  

Lynne Belcher
Southern Arkansas University
lrbelcher@saumag.edu