I don’t get angry often. But last Monday at approximately 5 p.m., I was one fuming senior. Steam must have been leaving my ears as I desperately tried to register for the last two core classes I need to take in order to graduate on time: science and world diversity.
It took me an hour to simply get onto Stagweb. When I finally was able to reach the registration page, I typed in the course numbers I needed (with alternatives ready). I didn’t get into a single course I needed.
I immediately sent e-mails to every professor whose class would fulfill my requirements without any luck. While their responses were sympathetic, they could not accomodate me and my level of frustration rose.
As of right now, I will not be graduating this spring. It’s not because I slacked off and failed classes. It’s just because there aren’t enough classes to accommodate the students who need to fulfill the requirements.
Now I’m waiting and praying that University College will allow me to enroll in a graduate course.
While I’m aware that the registration process is a typical problem at almost every university and college across the nation, it seems to me that Fairfield’s takes the cake.
It’s a sweet deal for freshmen with scholarships: they get preferential registration. They’re allowed to register before the seniors, who obviously should be allowed to register first.
Unless the class of 2009 are a bunch of superhumans, I highly doubt any of them are worrying about graduating this year.
Underclassmen, no matter how wonderful they are, can wait until their senior year to take the classes that are in such high demand. It won’t kill them.
I’m not blaming this on the freshmen. It’s the university’s fault. When classes are instantly filled, shouldn’t the university take notice and think, “Wow, maybe we should add some more sections next semester. Apparently every student needs to fulfill his or her core requirements!”
A simple suggestion is to make the classes larger. Use some of the larger classrooms in the School of Nursing, or have the classes in the campus center for all I care. It’s not acceptable that a second semester senior can’t get into core classes.
As an English major, I refuse to take a class in chemistry to fulfill my requirement. There is a reason why I’m an English major, and I could barely pass chemistry in high school! I’ve been trying to get into a basic science class since I was a freshman. I thought my time would come when I became a senior. Right.
Perhaps the university should offer more non-major classes within all departments so students don’t have to scheme in order to get placed in one just to fulfill a core requirement.
The technique of having your roommate (who has a better registration number than you) register for that Rainforest Ecosystems class and then drop it at the precise moment that you’re allowed to register is hardly foolproof.
I understand that it’s impossible to have every senior register through one site because it shuts down. Fine.
Then why is the university still using this method? Don’t you people pay your employees to come up with solutions?
Here’s another idea: let’s have a mock registration for faculty. Every faculty member who refuses to write a distressed senior into his or her class will sit down at a computer on registration day and try to register for a class.
You’ll each receive a time slot during which you can register. But be prepared to re-enter your faculty ID number and password at least 100 times. You’ll also be pounding the “refresh” button on Internet Explorer.
You will have to get into the frame of mind that if you don’t get this class, you won’t get tenure. It’s the only class that fits into your schedule that will allow you to intern in New York City. (You know, that important thing that might turn into a job come May.)
Stressful? Near tears? Well, wipe them away, poor babies. There’s always next year! You’ll be a “super senior!”
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