“WILL.POWER.101” and “WILL.POWER.102” are courses required for freshmen. The basis of the class is to prepare students to navigate campus life, registration and get to know the staff and other campus resources.
However, this course has sparked some controversy amongst students. First, the course is zero credits, meets two to three times a week and conflicts with most other required classes. With that being said, after a series of interviews with fellow students, we’re gonna conclude how the general population feels about WillPower.
“Personally, I think the advisement time is helpful, but the majority of it feels like a waste of time, and we should absolutely be getting credits, simply because of attendance,” said Bethany Soto, a freshman elementary education and communications major. “Credits are hours of learning, and we’re spending hours there.”
This is the main concern with WillPower. Other universities, such as Montclair, offer these intro courses, but with credits. It makes me wonder why we can’t do the same.
“It’s not really useful,” Grace Ruitenberg, a speech-language pathology major stated. “Honestly, it could’ve been an email.”
Honestly, I believe the second semester should hold class only once a week. I don’t think it’s necessary to meet two to three times, as there isn’t always that much to talk about.
Ciara Salazar, a criminal justice and sociology major, believes that “It can be useful, but the second semester (WILL.POWER.102) should be for students who are struggling. They should also teach students about PioneerLife or 25kLive.”
This is a great solution. I completely agree that not every student should have to take WILL.POWER.102, as they already understand what they’re doing and are doing well, especially because activities and events like the library visit/AI workshop, club fair and Greek fair have already happened by this point. It would be a great tool for students who are struggling and need a little extra help or need to utilize their resources.
“WillPower the first semester is great, but the second semester is so stupid. The same people are coming to visit and they tell us about the same resources they told us about months ago,” said Natalia Reyes, a secondary education and integrated math and sciences major. “For credits, I would love it, but I don’t see that happening. If the option is one semester or credits, I pick just the first semester.”
We want to hear your voice: What do you think? Is Willpower useful, or could we do without it?
