A School of Communications major may be cutting and pasting its requirements for the 1994 Fall Semester, pending approval from the University.

The film and video major, part of the school since 1985, may revamp its entrance requirements because of a "surge of enrollment," said Daniel Pfaff, associate dean of the School of Communications.

By increasing the required grade point average, the school could control the number of film and video majors. The cutoff would be flexible each semester so that all spaces could be filled and the new requirement would only impact incoming freshmen.

Mike Podolski, a film and video instructor, has seen the major endure a series of changes, including the elimination of the graduate program.

Ideally, Podolski said he would like to expand enrollment, but because there is not enough equipment to support the growing number of students, enrollment controls are necessary.

For students currently enrolling in the major, the open policy accepts anyone who meets the requirements -- a 2.0 GPA and prerequisite courses, said Tom Keiter, professor in charge of film and video.

Pfaff said the major would only keep the controls as long as it is needed. "We'll always take as many as we're able to," he said.

In the past six to seven years, the controls were lifted and the major did not have the facilities to meet students' needs, Keiter said. Because the department prides itself on offering small classes, controls must be reinstated, he added.

But some students feel those small classes do not always materialize. Some courses, such as Communications 150 -- Art of the Cinema and Communications 250 -- Film History and Theory, are a bit large, said Anjali Rao (sophomore-film and video).

Rao suggested splitting those courses into two sections -- an in-depth course comprised of film majors and a general one for students taking it as an elective.

Andy Biscontini (junior-film and video) said he understands why some people would want to lift controls and increase the number of students in the major. "But smaller classes might be more desirable for accessibility for equipment," he said.

Other than class size, some professors are also skeptical about controlling the influx of students based solely on grades, Keiter said.

Sometimes students with a GPA lower than 2.0 are admitted if they have done significant work in the field, Keiter said, adding that this usually requires a portfolio and an interview.

"But this doesn't happen frequently," he said.

In addition to the controls being established, the courses offered are being cut and repasted. Intensive courses dealing with collective aspects of film do not accommodate students, Keiter said. In the future, he said he hopes to offer specialized courses in screenwriting and other technical film-making topics.

Rao liked that idea, "Especially for those who know what aspect of film they are interested in . . . I think it has a good future; it just needs some overhauling and reconstructing."