Upcoming changes in Skyline College’s enrollment policy will limit the amount of times students will be able to attempt specific courses.

The policy, adopted by the Board of Governors of California Community Colleges, will go into effect statewide in the summer of 2012. According to the board, the new policy is being instituted in order to “ensure that as many students as possible are provided the opportunity to access a postsecondary education.”

Under the policy, students will only be able to take a “non-repeatable” course a maximum of three times. The change in policy pertains directly to students who are attempting to repeat a course.

Classes in which a student has received a “W” will count towards the three attempts as well as classes in which the student received a substandard grade of a “D” or an “F.” Drops that do not result in a “W,” however, will not count toward the amount of times a student can attempt the course.

The notification email went on to say that “all prior course attempts in a student’s academic record count toward the limit” and suggested that students seek assistance from a counselor if they are planning to withdraw from a course for the third time.

Students may be able to re-take a course for a fourth time if at least three years have passed since their last attempt; unusual, documented circumstances contributed to their last withdrawal; or they must re-take a course for the sake of updating themselves to comply with changes in their specific field of study.

Some students, such as Lucy Crawford, thought that the change in policy could be potentially detrimental to enrollment, and that the new policy could act as a deterrent to prospective students.

“[The policy] will probably inconvenience some people,” Crawford said. “[It will] probably make them think twice about coming here.”

Another student, David Talley, believes that many students will end up taking lower grades due to the limited amount of course repeats available.

“A lot of people are going have to stay in classes and probably just take F’s,” Talley said.

Student Dean of Enrollment Dan Mosby stated that the change in registration policy comes as a response from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office.

“This regulation was prompted in response to the reduced system capacity and increased enrollment demand faced by the California Community Colleges and the need to re-examine state policies to ensure that as many students as possible are provided the opportunity to access a postsecondary education,” Mosby said in an e-mail.

Mosby went on to comment that he predicts this change in enrollment in policy will not have a tremendous impact on school enrollment and that it could potentially have a positive impact on the amount of effort students put into their coursework.

“This change will have little impact on enrollment,” Mosby said. “It will have a greater impact on the approach that students have in their educational planning. Students will need to be very directed in their selection of classes and will need to stay in close contact with their counselors, particularly as they change schedules, majors and/or drop classes. As a result of limitations on course attempts, students’ decisions to repeat or withdraw from courses may have serious implications and affect their educational planning.”