Instead of sitting in a classroom every day in the fall semester, sophomore Emma Garrison closely observed the red pandas at the Prospect Park Zoo in New York City. She studied their cognitive problem-solving skills and learned about the effects of environmental changes, such as the presence of a box or ball, on the pandas’ behavior. “I was an intern zoo keeper,” she said. “So essentially, a zoo keeper without the keys to the exhibits.” Garrison is one of many students who elect to take time away from their studies at the university for either a semester or a year. The university labels these cases “inactive” because the student is still registered with the university but not taking courses and has not yet finished the 120 credits required to graduate with a degree. Choosing to become inactive is usually for “continuing undergraduate, degree-seeking students who intend, and qualify, to re-enroll at the University of Miami after leaving the university for a designated period of time,” according to the inactive status notification form that students must complete to begin the process. “I took a semester off because I needed some grounding,” she said. “I wasn’t entirely sure that I was planning [...]
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