By this coming April’s class registration period, the University plans to have phased out the click-based class system in lieu of a new process that relies on an algorithm designed by ITS.
After compiling a list of five classes in order of preference, students will be assigned four classes by the algorithm on the basis of class year, major, listed priority, and history of unattained preferred classes, starting with the first new registration. “The old system is just hell,” said WSA Educational Policy Committee (EPC) Chair Sam Ruth ’08. “The benefits of this new system are pretty obvious. There is no frantic clicking.”
Ruth shared his personal bad experiences with the click-based system, such as when he unsuccessfully clicked on eight classes as a freshman.
“The new system eliminates the first clicker problems,” said Professor of Biology and Earth and Environmental Sciences Barry Chernoff. Chernoff is the faculty chair of the EPC.
Students will no longer have to register in computer lab sessions and will simply submit their preferred list of courses. Before registering, students will need to meet with their faculty advisors and get approval for their five course choices. After classes are assigned, there will be the equivalent of a drop-add period in which students finalize their schedules. Many of the exact details of this process and the role of
advisors have yet to be determined.
“We’ve been hearing for years and years that the click system, which was meant as a temporary system, was outdated and unnecessarily stressful,” said WSA President Jesse Watson ’06. “You always heard rumors go around about how if you’re at the Sci Tower, you’re closer to the [network] core. This system will be a lot more equitable and people will have much better chances of getting their top choices.”
For those who hypothetically get two or fewer classes from the algorithm registration, drop-add would be opened earlier, according to Ruth.
ITS and the WSA have not yet determined the exact weight the algorithm assigns to each of the different factors. Particularly, it is not known how the priority given to a class will compare to the weight the algorithm accords to class year.
“Does a senior’s fifth click override a freshman’s first?” said Ruth, stressing that some aspects of the new system were still in development. “If people have concerns, they should feel free to email me. I feel positive about the system. It’s been vetted thoroughly
Watson also encouraged student input.
”The WSA and Sam Ruth would be very interested to hear anybody’s opinions on it,“ he said.
Most students were not aware of the upcoming changes and did not know enough details to give a well-informed opinion.
”I have always gotten all my classes through the clicking process,“ said Alexandra Steinlight ’08.
Those less fortunate thought that change was a distinct necessity.
”Nobody’s ever accused the click-as-fast-as-you-can registration system of being a fair arbiter of limited class places, so this new system seems like a respectable alternative,“ said Matt Hall ’07. ”Anything that’s based on a clearly defined list of preferences and not on a person’s reaction time with a computer mouse has got to be an improvement.“