A VCU student says he had to push off his wedding to his dying fiance, because the university didn't do enough to communicate options to complete classes sooner.

Josh Wilberger got a marketing degree with a Spanish minor, then went back to school for another degree in Spanish. Wilberger believes the Spanish classes he took for his minor should have counted toward his new degree, but he says he had to take several extra classes over the course of a couple years after an advisor told him there was no way around it.

picture: wedding dress perth

Then, Wilberger says he was filling out his graduation form when he noticed he could petition a committee to get requirements waived, and he believes his advisor should have told him about that option.

Wilberger said the time and money forced him to push back his wedding to Erika Schoonover, who is dying of Lupus. They say the rules and the costly extra requirements are costing even more at home.

"It put a strain on our relationship, We fought. We had moments where I didn't think we were going to make it," Schoonover said.

She claims Josh wasn't able to get a full time job with benefits because he was busy finishing up his classes. Without benefits, they can't get married due to the cost of her Lupus care.

"The timer for her has been set a little shorter and that's one of the big concerns," said Wilberger. "Am I going to be able to marry her before she dies?"

"I just want to be with him," said Schoonover. "He makes me so happy. And I never thought I would have anyone who would ever love me. I've never been loved in the same way that he loves me."

Wilberger provided emails between himself and the university's Director of Advising. In them, he asks why his advisor never explained the option to petition the committee. The VCU employee replies, "we both would not mention to you something that we do not feel is relevant." That's where Wilberger disagrees. He says he should have been given the information that he had a choice to petition.

"What essentially could have been done, depending on the course load, in one or two semesters -- three max if you want to stretch it out -- has stretched me out over three years," he said.

The public information officer at VCU said students should know the rules up front, as they are posted in the student Undergraduate Bulletin distributed to all students.

Josh says he wanted to tell his story, so other students will know to ask questions and learn all of their options.

VCU provided the following information about degree requirements and appeal options from the Undergraduate Bulletin, which is updated and distributed to students annually.

read more: wedding dress shops adelaide