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Wednesday, January 13. 1988/University Daily Kansar
Short period for adding classes irks students
University's attempt to stabilize rosters forces premature decisions, some say
By James Buckman
By James Buckman Kansan staff writer
Kansan staff writer
Students hoping to add a class this semester may see increased difficulties associated with the process. For the second consecutive semester, the add period will last only two weeks.
Last year, students could add classes during the first four weeks of the semester. That time was cut to two weeks last fall.
The idea of limiting add time was conceived by a committee studying enrollment at the University of Kansas.
Last year, the proposal was recommended to the University administration, but no final action was taken. Each of the University's presidents adopted the policy on their own and cheated to continue it through this semester.
The intent of the policy, which is popular with instructors, is to stabilize rosters earlier, limiting the distractions caused by late additions to classes.
For some students, the policy is a problem, in large part because they aren't aware of the change. Also, some students said two weeks wasn't enough time to decide whether they wanted a particular class.
Kathy Siren, Prairie Village graduate student, said, "I've been on both sides of it. I've been a graduate teaching assistant, so I can see the teacher's point of view, but I really think that the point of add-drop is to give the students a chance to see how the class works for them."
Part of the problem is that the shorter add period doesn't match the time period for dropping classes. The longer add period drops classes over a period of five weeks.
The three-week time difference means a student can drop a class
after the add period expires, wasting a class space that could be used by someone who needs it.
Patrick Brungardt, Leavenworth sophomore, said, "That really irks the hell out of me. If I'm sitting in a class trying to decide if I want to take it but there aren't any slots open, I end up having to audit the class or something like that, which means I'm basically just wasting my time."
Dave Platt, Roeland Park senior,
said. "I can understand some of the
logic behind it because you get into a
class too late if you are adding. But I
don't think that gives you time to
add other people are not dropping."
Warren Lucas, Lawrence graduate student, said he didn't think the shorter period would cause problems.
The Student Senate is trying to work out a compromise on the add-
drop time. It recently passed a resolution calling for a three-week add period and a 17-day drop period.
Jason Krakow, student body president, said that the Senate would work at getting the policy changed for next year.
"The shortened period doesn't really allow the student the best opportunity to get a solid feel for the class," he said. "An extension of that by a week would certainly allow people in classes that meet once a week or that meet even twice a week the opportunity to really get a feel for what the class is about."
Brower Burchill, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, said that to help students with the shorter add period and to help alleviate long lines at Strong Hall, notices announcing which classes had been closed would be posted around campus and updated daily.
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