VCU introduces electronic prerequisite-check system

Mechelle Hankerson
News Editor

In an effort to aid student registration and to help keep students on a timely graduation timetable, VCU has introduced Prereq Check, or Banner Enforced Prerequisite Checking Process.

Prereq Check is an automated process in eServices that will check to make sure all prerequisites are completed for a course.

Beginning with advanced registration for Spring 2012 (which began last Monday for the Honors College), students who have not completed the necessary prerequisites for a course will be unable to register for the specific course.

The system is automated in eServices and will not require anything from students, unless they believe there has been mistake and they actually have completed a prerequisite course.

Previously, prerequisite checking was not enforced through the registration process. This means students could have signed up for classes they were not technically qualified to take. Doing this could have forced students to go back and take lower-level courses to make sure higher-level courses were counted for credit.

While the system will be in place for all students, the Prereq Check website said transfer students may find the tool especially helpful in staying on track for timely graduation.

“Sometimes the courses that (students) transfer in don’t match specifically what’s in the (VCU) bulletin,” Director of VCU’s Transfer Center, Artis Gordon said.

According to Gordon, there hasn’t been a significant number of transfer students who have run into long-term problems because of prerequisite classes. He also said that so far, there have been minimal problems with the Prereq Check system.

For transfer students, the biggest problem might be the computer’s inability to recognize the transfer equivalent of a prerequisite. Gordon said with classes like Biology 151, the computer may not be able to recognize that a Biology 101 course is also sufficient.

“It’s an easy fix,” he said.

Transfer students can contact an adviser with any problems that relate to a course-naming issue to see if a transferred course corresponds to a VCU course.

Gordon also advises transfer students to make sure VCU has all transcripts on record to make sure the system recognizes all classes and doesn’t prolong the registration process.

Normal registration (all undergraduates except Honors students, graduate students and non-degree seeking students) begins Nov. 9.

For more information on Prereq Check, visit prereq.vcu.edu.