Students majoring or minoring in Business need to pay attention to new requirements and changes in requirements for a Business degree before they register for the summer or fall semesters.

The dean of the College of Business and Public Affairs at UTM, Dr. Ernest Moser, said the degree changes include: •Business majors have to complete at least 50 non-developmental hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.1 AND have completed (with acceptable grades) ENGL 111 and 112; Math 140, 160 and 210; CSCI 201; ACCT 201 and 202; ECON 201 and 202; and BLAW 201

•Junior and Senior Business majors not meeting these requirements will not be allowed to register in business level courses without Dean Moser's permission.

•Students not majoring in Business who need to take a junior/senior level Business course (or courses), such as those minoring in Business, Marketing, etc. or whose programs require a certain number of business courses have two options: 1) go by the CBPA Student Services Center in room 103 of the CBPA Building (or call 7225) before attempting to register so the College staff can make sure the student is qualified (has the correct prerequisites and is in good academic standing). 2) The student’s adviser or department chair can send an e-mail listing names of students and their student numbers to Sheryl Breeden (sbreeden@utm.edu) at the CBPA Student Services Center.

Furthermore, Dr. Moser said the required credit hours for business students to graduate will drop from 127 to 120 hours, effective fall 2003. This change was requested of all Board of Regent schools, and the college of business is the first college at UTM to change there required credit hours.

However, students can also expect to see other departments change their required hours.

Several business students commented on the new requirements.

“I think it’s good that they are reducing the credit hours so more students can get double majors or minors,” said Bethany Wintermute, a junior Marketing major from Selmer.

Travon Jones, a junior Accounting major from Jackson, said “I think requirements are fair right now, and that this change is just reflecting UTM’s budget cuts. I think everything is beneficial.”