Mistaken Identity

For the record, this is not me:*



*Shingara_Singh (although I kinda wish it was, considering he's on TV and all!)

Karmic Justice!

It has been a little over one week since my last post, and wow- what a week it's been! "The job" is quite frantic as of late. I have had a headche for two days and haven't had a good night's sleep in over a week. A literal flood of non-reading adults have taken over my InBox and voicemail with "technical issues" that could clearly be resolved if one would simply RTFS!! But, then again, if everyone read the f****ng screen, I wouldn't have a job, now would I? (Not this job anyway!)

After I sent off the email shown in my previous post, I was taken quite off guard by the reply I received only one day later! Let's see, how it go?...

Dear Mr. Singh,

I have reviewed your situation once again, and based on the concerns you raise in your email and your patience, promptness and professionalism in addressing each of the many modifications in your academic situation, I propose rescinding my decision to deny your petition to waive the seven-year limit for EDUC 603, 605 and 607. I have spoken with Associate Dean E and she agrees with my decision. My staff will prepare a new waiver that I will approve. You will receive your copy in the mail. I wish you the best as you move forward in your professional life with all of the benefits of having earned a master's degree. If you have questions, please contact me.

Sincerely, Dean K

Wha-wha-whaaaaat?!??! I had to read that three times before it sunk in! I immediately called my friend who has stood by me from day one of my Graduate program even through all the toil and strife. She did not pick up, so read it out loud into her voicemail. Yes, that is just how excited I was! I called my mother next and thanked her for teaching me to be patient, polite, and professional at all times, even when you would rather choke someone.

I called my best friend and said "hellyeahmuthafuckathatswhati'mtalkiningaboutbeyaoch!"

Of course, being the cynical pragmatic type that I am, I waited a few days for "the catch". None came. I waited for verfication in writing. That is, the pesky waiver form that was to arrive in the post. Received just yesterday, I can finally talk about it publicly and breathe a sigh of relief that this ordeal has come to a positive ending after all!


So there you have it my friends. Proof that the "high-road" actually does work out every now and then. (Or could this perhaps be the results of a carefully executed, clandestine and strategic plan from yours truly that I may or may not reveal in the weeks to come?) For now I'll accept "patience, promptness and professionalism". Of course, the email came only a few days before classes, one week after refiling a grad check, and one day after sending in a Deferement Form for my student loans.

After the excitement settled down I realized that with a refiled grad check and paid up fees, what's to stop me from taking Yoga and Photoshop III, *and* putting of Student Loan payments for a few months?

Oh yeah- Karma baby, karma! I guess I can't push it, now can I? Which reminds me- I've got to go drop a class!

Peace and Namaste! [ss]

FALL QUARTER COUNTDOWN: -2 DAYS

Progress, spelled backwards?

Hoopmaster Singh here.

The last run through the Big Top gave me a lot of hoops to jump through. No flames this time, but there was bucket of "acid" I had to leap over without getting any on me. The following is my progress up to now:*

- I went to register for classes last week but it would not give me access to Fall 2007.
- I re-filed my Grad Check the other day and waited a few more days before I could register.
- Yesterday I went to register for 603 and 605. I had to get "Dept. consent" to take these courses. I got a call back saying I could add 603. (I am still waiting for approval for 605.)
- I signed in to add 603 on and this is the message I get:

"You have already taken this class. When graded this course may be subject to repeat rules. Verify that the class will apply toward your course of study."

I checked the rules:

"Classified and conditionally classified graduate students may be permitted to repeat one course at CSUSB that was taken for graduate credit one time only by petition to..."

- I called the Graduate Studies Office and they said this policy only applies if I am trying to discount a grade.
- I don't believe them so I wrote Dean K to "...make sure which information is correct to avoid any future surprises and obtain the proper permissions if needed."

*It seems like no matter how thorough I try to be, another week goes by and I'm STILL not in the classes I need! tick tock tick tock!

Thankfully I've been re trained to look conflict in the eye and say Namaste!

FALL QUARTER COUNTDOWN: 6 DAYS!

Pre-payment required?

Finally today "Fall 2007" shows up on my account. So, i should be able to register w/ no problem, right? That is, until I actually try:

Apparently THEY didn't get the memo!

I put the courses in my "shopping cart"- because well, that's how we roll @ Dino State, and then... I HAVE HOLDS?

Aaah- "Pre-payment required". WTF?!?!


Yet another round of phone calls repeating everything I've been saying all summer.

FALL QUARTER COUNTDOWN: 7 DAYS!

Now How Much Would You Pay?

A few days ago mentioned that I got the Upper Division Requirement waived. Yay! This means I only have to retake three (3) courses! Yay! On Monday I went to register for classes, and... hey... wait... "Fall 2007" is not available to me? Boooo!

I call the Registration Helpdesk... According the system, I've already graduated, and that's why Fall quarter doesn't even show up on my MyCoyote account! Surprise surprise! I make the call and I get the solution: "You have to re-file a Grad Check..." ($25). "...Oh wait- Graduating at the end of Winter Quarter '08? Looks like you missed the deadline sir! There's a late fee" ($10). Total = $35. Then the guy on the line says once I file the Grad check, I can register for classes "immediately".

"Immediately?" I ask. "Yes, immediately." says Voice-on-the-phone. I go and fill out the form and pay the fee and homegirl at the Registration Desk says, "Alright you're all set- You should be able to register in 2 to 3 business days". "What?" I say... "...but the guy said "immediately".

Registration Deskhomegirl: "It takes 2-3 business days."

Fortunately, I've graduated from this campus twice already so these types of communication issues no longer phase me. Instead of going crazy like a one-legged korean breakdancer, I walked away.

Now here I am 3 business days later and guess what... Yep. No "Fall 2007".

I love this place!

FALL QUARTER COUNTDOWN: 8 Days

Is it "Three to get ready", or "Three to go"?

Good news friends! (I guess):

Received this morning:

Dear S,
I have approved your petition to waive the seven-year limit for
EDUC 306. If you have questions, please let me know.

Dean K


Alright that's more like it! I'm eerily upbeat about this whole travesty ordeal thing experience at the moment. Of course, I haven't bought textbook yet either.

:ss:

I am a CSUSB Graduate! Wait- No I'm Not!

A lot of adventure has occurred since my last post over a year ago!

So what have I been doing since then? I finished my Thesis, went through the typical reformatting runaround madness, gave the Uni a lot of money in small increments, and finally got my Thesis signed off and and turned in. So I'm done, right? I participated in Commencement ceremonie, had a little soiree with close friends, and got a nice watch from my Mom.

So I must be done. Right? Right?

BRRZZZZZZZZTTT!! WRONG!!!

How about this: TWO MONTHS after I and the known universe celebrate the fact that I'm finally done with my MA degree, I am notified that I have to re-take four courses over again?! Whoa- WTF?! (I didn't say "double-you-tee-eff" but this is family show...)

Early on in this particular "setback", amidst a fit of frustration and seething anger I thought "I should chronicle this ordeal- online for the world to see. Yeah- that'll show em!". But then I thought "Nah- I'm not trying to cash-out my Alma Mater. What good would that do?". Now here we are two months after that decision, and I finally decide I don't care about hurting anyone's FTE! I mean, feelings.

Since I can't recap each event leading up to this post in painstaking and accurate details (you know- like I should have been doing all along), the best way to "recap" the events up to now is simply to share the document I just turned into the Graduate Studies Office, who I am sure is sick of seeing my face by now:


Re: POSTBACCALAUREATE/GRADUATE PETITION FOR WAIVER OF UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

To Whom It May Concern:

As recommended by Dr. N and Dr. E, I am requesting a waiver of the Upper Division Writing Course (306) pre-requisite to expedite the completion of EDUC 603, 605, and 607 in a timely manner. I am requesting that this course be waived based on the fact that I have already met this requirement at least once before, having taken and passed the Upper Division Writing Course which allowed me to be classified into the ETEC program in the first place.

I met with my Advisor on November 28, 2005 to discuss the steps necessary/options to resume the Instructional Technology Masters’ Program. In reviewing my previous coursework and current related work experience we filled out and turned in the WAIVER OF THE 7 YEAR LIMIT ON APPLICABLE COURSEWORK for the courses shown below:

EDUC 603 EDUC 605 EDUC 607 ETEC 500(547)
ETEC 546 ETEC 543(605) ETEC676 (691) ETEC 674

Receiving my Graduation Requirement Check (dated May 18, 2007), it was discovered that the courses shown below were never waived and an explanation was never provided. Based on the lack of information I (and my Advisor) had assumed these courses had been waived along with the others or I would have retaken them while I was retaking other ETEC courses:

EDUC 603 EDUC 605 EDUC 607

Approximately two months after the completion of my MA Program in June 2007, it was decided that I should be required to re-take the three (3) EDUC Core Courses (603, 605, 607), of which the Upper Division Writing Course (306) is a pre-requisite. I am requesting that this course be waived based on the fact that I have already met this requirement at least once before, having taken and passed the Upper Division Writing Course which allowed me to be classified into the ETEC program in the first place. My goal is to expedite the completion of EDUC 603, 605, and 607 in a timely manner.

Please feel free to contact me regarding this request.

---

The plan (today):

• Get the waiver for the Writing Requirement course which I have successfully completed twice already (long story)
• Take 603 and 605 concurrently (for our non-Uni friends, that means "at the same time") in Fall
• Take 607 in Winter
• Use Spring Quarter to tie up any loose-ends and newfound loopholes (because, they'll come up!)
• Re-graduate in June 2008
• Defer Student Loan payments for another year

I'll try to veer away from name-calling and finger-pointing. There are plenty of higher-ups already doing that. Plus, you know never know where your next job is coming from. However, from here on out, it's "game on" for effective distribution of information via asynchronous communication!

Comments welcome.