IGETC Problem - Berkeley Possibly Rescinding Admission

Eirenarch · 07-26-2008, 03:43 PM

I got an email from my admissions officer at Berkeley yesterday, saying that my transcipts came in without full IGETC certification, and that if I can't get that fixed they will rescind my admission. I had no idea why this would be the case because I took all the classes that I was told to take and I researched EVERY rule and guildeline available concerning IGETC to make sure I was on track.

I went to my college to find out why they didn't approve me and the lady who handled my transcript said one of the classes I took wasn't an approved class. I pointed out that it's in the college catelog as being an approved class and that assist.org says it was approved starting in Spring 06 (I took it in Fall 07) The reason why it wasn't approved prior to Spring 06 is because the school didn't offer it prior to then. It's just your standard World Civilizations class and it transfers to pretty much every school, so that isn't an issue.

But what the lady told me that it doesn't count because it wasn't approved BEFORE I ORIGINALLY STARTED COLLEGE.

What the hell? Has anybody heard this before? I've read every guideline I could find concerning IGETC (college website, college catelog, assist.org, uc website, etc.) and NOWHERE does it say that you are only allowed to take classes that were approved prior to you starting college. Also, I've asked about IGETC multiple times to ensure that I was doing everything I needed to and I was never told anything about this.

She said she would look into things to see if she could fix it and told me to come back on Monday, but I don't know what is going to happen. The reason she thinks she might be able to fix it is because I actually started taking college classes while I was still in high school, and that is what they were using as my start date. If she instead uses my real start date she might be able to count that class as acceptable.

At this point my entire life has already been invested in my move to Berkeley (to name one thing, I've already signed a one year lease that I can't get out of). I can't even describe how horribly my life will be ruined if my admission is rescinded now!

SFV2008 · 07-26-2008, 04:06 PM

That is RIDICULOUS!!!! As long as the class was approved BEFORE you took the class, you should be good to go.

If she can't help you. Ask to speak to the person above her. Take it all the way to the top!

alansda · 07-26-2008, 04:08 PM

I don't know about your CCC's IGETC sheet, but mine clearly says "A course must appear on IGETC in the year it is satisfactorily completed." It really is up to the person handling the IGETC certification to let you off the hook or not, since IGETC certification is just your standard IGETC sheet with the courses you took circled and a signature of the articulation officer at the bottom.

If the lady doesn't budge, go to the next person up the ladder, the Dean of Counseling, since his signature can override a lot of regulations.

Eirenarch · 07-26-2008, 04:16 PM

The IGETC sheet they were using was for 04-05, since the first college class I took was in 04 (I took trig in the summer between my sophmore and junior years of high school), and the history class I took wasn't on that sheet because it hadn't even been created yet back in 2004. But I took the class in Fall 07, three semesters after the class had been approved for IGETC.

AdamantineX · 07-26-2008, 07:18 PM

dude i am in the same boat with you. i dont know whats happening but i get the mail from my counselor like yesterday and i was sure that i have completed all the igetc requirements. where do you go to talk about this?

AdamantineX · 07-26-2008, 07:26 PM

hey which community college did u go to?

Thedude44 · 07-26-2008, 07:35 PM

you really need to talk to some one above her. Each student has "catalog rights" which is the students rights according to the catalog of any given semester that a student attends that institution. You are given the rights that you have according to the first semester that you attended that school and are allowed to keep those rights until you are no longer enrolled in that school. Even if the catalog changes you are still given those rights. However you are also allowed to have the rights any of the printed catalog rights for any semester you attend. Now If that catalog says that this course was transferable to a UC when ever you attended regardless of when your first semester was then it should be able to satisfy your IGETC.

1lazysoul · 07-26-2008, 07:36 PM

take it to higher authority.
your life shouldn't be ruined just because of this one course.
and your school should also be proud that one of their alumni is transferring to berkeley...
does your school have a transfer department/counselor?

AdamantineX · 07-26-2008, 07:55 PM

should i talk to the ppl at ccc or my berkeley's counselor?

Thedude44 · 07-26-2008, 08:06 PM

I would talk to both.

Eirenarch · 07-26-2008, 08:46 PM

When I talked to my admissions officer she didn't really know anything. She basically told me to go to my school and get things straightened out in 10 days or she's cancelling my admission.

Thedude: how do you know about these "catalog rights"? Can I find this policy in writing somewhere so that I can show them to whoever I have to deal with at my school?

thatgirltoo · 07-26-2008, 09:25 PM

I would fight for sure. If there is one thing that bothers the h*** out of me it is bureaucracy.

I started school in 2001, but the IGETC form used for my certification was the latest one available, I think for 2007-2008. For sure they did not go back and find a 2001 IGETC form to use! Does it say anywhere in your catalog that you must use the IGETC form for your first year of CC classes?

AdamantineX · 07-26-2008, 09:33 PM

there is no way for them to not cancel our admissions? lol **** man seriously this is freaking me out im at berkeley right now and it will be very hard for me to go back to pasadena just to take care of this mess......

eirenarch:
what does it say on ur my berkeley application missing document page?
Official IGETC Certification (of the full pattern of courses). Partial IGETC not acceptable.

this is what it says

Eirenarch · 07-26-2008, 09:53 PM

AdamantineX: That is exactly what mine says.

thatgirltoo: No, the catalog says nothing about that. In fact, it doesn't say anything about IGETC forms at all. The catalog just says "Here's the courses you can take to satisfy IGETC" and then lists the current acceptable courses.

Everything I've read implied that you could take any course as long as it was approved when you took it. I had no idea I would be constrained to taking only courses that were approved during the same year, and it definitely doesn't say anywhere that the year used has to be your first one.

AdamantineX · 07-26-2008, 10:20 PM

dude i dont even know whats happening with my igetc. im pretty sure that ive taken all the classes if not more than required. im just wondering maybe, just may be that because i requested it on the day that my grades was posted, they did not recognize the grades that i took during spring. my grades came out pretty late and so i kept checking the web everyday and the second it was posted, i rrequested the transcript.