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Show OPINIONS VOL L ISSUE 20 www.uvureview.com JANUARY 24, 2011 It's OK I'll wait The waitlist has taken some time to get used to. It has been a positive change for the university however, and will help relieve some of the pressure of growth. By Celeste Rosenlof Opinions Editor S apparently, the waitlist works . Sure, it is the last resort and maybe a little bit of a false hope. But it works. It works because it allows the department to see student interest or the need for a class in the current semester, it keeps the student constantly informed of their status for class registration and in the long-term, the data it tracks will help departments to more accurately schedule an adequate number of sections. In the short term, departments have access to data about the demand of a class —something which cannot be done with add cards. Because of this, departments can evaluate whether they have enough interest in a class to open another section. Eva Bernfeld, director of Academic Scheduling and Curriculum said, "We have opened up 496 new sections since October registration [for spring]." While not all of these sections were added because of the demands seen on the waitlist, it makes up a good part of it. When students get on waitlists, it is the same as asking a department to open another section, only instead of a representative few people making the request, the number of people on a 0 waitlist can be quantified. For students, unless a new section opens, signing up for a waitlist may seem like more of a cause for concern than a better chance at getting into the class; if one signs up for the waitlist of a fall class during the spring, it can be months before knowing whether or not a seat will be available in the classroom. But taking a chance on the unknown can pay off, whether a spot opens up or the demand is so great other sections are added. Many students become concerned when they realize that the only notification one receives about an open spot in the class for which they are on the waitlist is through their UVLink email. From the time the first student on the waitlist receives the email notification of that opening, there are 24 hours to take that spot. Once that period is up, registration for that spot is available to the next student on the list. While it is unfortunate when a student misses that notification, it is something that can be avoided, either through checking UVLink email regularly or forwarding that inbox to the student's primary email account. But for the most part, the student benefits from the system. Administrators believe it increases the fairness of the adding system, too. Rather than hoping you can make a better argument to the teacher than the guy behind Illustration by Bryan Gomm/UVU Review you, the waitlist turns the game into a more fair first come, first serve arrangement. "It's more fair ... I think students are able to get into the classes they want without the extra legwork," said Registrar LuAnn Smith. The waitlist has given data where there was none before, too. For departments, not only can they add sections when they see the need, but they can track patterns in which classes and departments are growing. For future scheduling, this means that not only will they know in advance which classes are in demand, but they can make a better estimate as to how many additional teachers they will need for those courses and how many classrooms will need to be scheduled. With so much growth of the student body, this data is vital for the school to have as it considers how to handle that growth. How professors hinder learning Even at a teaching-based institution, student and teachers don't always share expectations. Unfortunately though, it's the student who loses. By Brianna Bailey Opinions Writer ithin the first few weeks of new classes, students W will more or less decide which Lyndi Bone/UVU Review Teachers and students must work together for student success. teachers they like or dislike. These professors really do hold the key to student's success and have the ability to help or hurt their education. Dr. David Fearnly, associate professor of Mathematics said, "One of the most important qualities we look for when hiring professors is that they will be comfortable teaching four to five classes at one time and that they are happy teaching a lot." If professors want to help their students start the semester out right, they must start with a thoughtful syllabus. It helps students understand their expectations, assignments, grading system and timeline of the class. "How can I be successful in a class when I have no idea what's going on or [what's] expected of me?" said Sophomore Jordan Moon, Aviation Administration major. "It's so helpful when pro- Letter to the Editor Requirements • Letters must be turned in on Tuesday by noon in order to be printed in the next issue. • We make no guarantee that letters will be printed. fessors have a syllabus and stick to it." When a professor has established a thorough syllabus of the class, the course is made much simpler. Another important characteristic of a great professor is keeping students informed of their grading system. Professors should be grading assignments within a timely manner, giving them back to students or posting grades online. Students become easily frustrated with professors who do not give assignments back or grade without feedback. Freshman Jody Baughman, Exercise Science major said, "It's extremely frustrating when you worked hard on an assignment you turned in, but when you receive it back, all you see is a grade with no comments. As a student, how can I know what I'm doing wrong to improve my grade with no feedback?" Professors have a slim chance of receiving positive evaluations when they withhold grades from their students. It is important to students to stay on top of their grades. Additionally, professors should become tech savvy with school programs like Blackboard, as well as using media in class. "I like professors who are more tech savvy because we, as a younger generation, are used to having things done quick and simple," said Freshman Communications major Anna Carnel. "It is convenient to send things via email or Blackboard and have assignments and grades updated on Blackboard." The last contributing factor to whether a professor has a positive impact on students is where they proctor their students' tests. The testing center is an extremely stressful area for students. If professors send their students to take a test there, it does not allow students the opportunity to ask questions throughout the test to clarify the test questions. If a professor neglects to take some extra time to fulfill the needs of students choosing to take their class and pay tuition for an education, students are ultimately getting less than what they pay for. uvu.review.opinions@gmail.com • Letters 300 words or less have a greater chance of being published - anything longer will be edited for content. • All letters become the property of UVU Review as soon as they are submitted. • Anonymous letters are only publishable when the safety or professional status of the author is in jeopardy. |