As we approach the end of October, it is now time to register for winter and spring classes. However, when creating a saved schedule in Workday, students may notice that humanities courses offered in the winter are almost entirely unavailable. The Stute investigated further.
The first issue with winter courses began a few weeks ago, when spring and winter courses were made public on Workday, allowing students to start creating saved schedules and planning their academic plans. The Stute found, however, that at first, there were no courses within the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS). The winter semester, also known as intersession, “allow[s] students to better balance their credit loads,” according to Liz O’Connell, the Manager of the Center for Student Success in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering, who spoke with The Stute about planning around the lack of winter humanities courses.
The Stute received a copy of an email regarding preparations for course registration season, dated October 15 and addressed to “All Faculty and Staff” from the “Office of the Registrar,” which stated, “HASS courses will not be offered during the winter 2026 session.”
The Stute spoke with a few students who expressed frustration that there was no communication to students anticipating this change. With registration deadlines approaching quickly, the lack of a formal notification may cause issues or alter many students’ academic plans. O’Connell explained that “It is possible that students who had planned to take HASS courses during the winter term must now take them in the spring. This may require students to adjust their schedules, taking into account the number and type of HASS requirements they still need to fulfill. With more students needing to fit HASS classes into the spring semester, demand for certain courses and time slots may be higher than usual, so students are encouraged to plan accordingly and utilize the registration tools, such as waitlists, as available.”
Jeylan Jubran, a third-year Industrial and Systems Engineering student who hopes to complete the Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP), said that “it kind of sucks that as a Co-Op student, I couldn’t take the humanities I needed, so I am going to have to take them at another college.” O’Connell also similarly advised that students take their humanities elsewhere.
While taking courses at another institution helps students, this could financially hurt the university. A source familiar with the issue confirmed that the removal of HASS courses is the result of budget cuts — the same cuts that are felt university-wide through reductions in library hours, the drop-in tutoring center, and in almost every department across campus. However, with students taking courses elsewhere instead of at Stevens, there is an additional loss of funds.
The Stute spoke with Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Teaching Associate Professor Jennifer McBryan from HASS for some advice to students who may be struggling with the change in course offerings. Her first piece of advice was to check the Stevens Transfer Credit Articulation to see what humanities courses are already approved from other institutions. Similar to O’Connell’s advice, if students are struggling and need to take a humanities course to stay on track, taking a winter or summer course at another university is an option. Additionally, McBryan offered that if students need help, they should reach out to her or to their academic advisor to develop a plan that best suits their educational needs.
The decision to withhold HASS courses during the winter 2026 session has created significant challenges for students who rely on these classes to fulfill their academic requirements. The lack of prior notification has left many students scrambling to adjust their schedules and seek alternatives just weeks before registration begins — such as enrolling in courses at other institutions. This situation not only highlights the importance of effective communication between the university and its students but also raises concerns about the long-term implications of budget cuts on academic offerings. Administration, faculty, and students need to work together to adapt to challenges.
