Already more than halfway through the semester, most students - if they have not already - are preparing to squeeze themselves through registration windows for next semester's classes. With alarms set and BIRD on speed dial, some students will be disappointed after scaling registration hurdles in the hopes of solidifying a perfect schedule.
According to some students, registration troubles extend beyond the busy signals on BIRD and the error screens on SOAR. One of the more serious problems occurs when departments do not offer required courses, or when required courses fill up too quickly.
"It's a pain when you have to be forced into all of your classes because they're all already filled," said Brian Murphy, a sophomore communication major.
Presently, some students in the English department find themselves unable to complete registration for the Spring 2004 semester. The department is not offering Milton or Chaucer classes, which are part of the graduation requirements for English majors.
"It's disappointing that some students would not have been able to fulfill their requirements because the English Department had failed to provide us with the necessary tools," said Raebecca Smalley, a junior communication major and an English minor.
Linda Bogdan, the undergraduate secretary of the English department, said the English department will make provisions for graduating seniors to finish the English program successfully.
"Since the department isn't offering required courses we will certainly make exceptions," said Bogdan. "We're making substitutions and we ask the students to come in and we make exceptions for them."
Students in the media study department said they have also run into problems getting into the necessary courses required for their major.
Lia Hallett, senior academic advisor for student advising services, explained the unique position of the media study department.
"Media study is becoming a more popular major," said Hallett. "The demand or general interest for the courses is increasing rapidly, and my guess is that it's because it takes time to add courses and faculty to the program. Many of the courses are hands-on, so they need to make sure the class sizes are smaller."
According to Hallett, the number of courses offered to the student body is based on classroom and professor availability, as well as UB's budget, which varies by semester.
Heather Friers, a freshman physical therapy major, said even though she has not yet undergone a registration session at UB, she has received tips from her UBE 101 professor about how to avoid registration woes.
" She told us to have at least three different schedules because it can be really frustrating," said Friers.
Some students believe steps should be taken to improve registration.
"There are definitely too many students for classes that are so small," said Mike LaPorta, a senior media study major. "I have a problem with a class myself, and I have to meet with an advisor soon about it."
According to Hallett students' issues with registration is news to her.
"I am not aware of any registration problems," said Hallett. "I've only gotten positive feedback from students that they like Web registration or BIRD."
Hallett added that there is no central system for scheduling classes, and that it varies by department. It is left up to students to acquaint themselves with the specific procedures of each department.
Some students said they recognize the efforts the university has made to make registering less problematic, but the system still has imperfections.
"I like the fact that we have two ways to register, online or by phone," said Naomi Rosenzweig, a junior psychology major. "But it hasn't really alleviated the amount of time you have to wait to get through."
While a number of students work themselves into a frenzy trying to avoid busy signals on BIRD or staring at error notices as they try to register online through SOAR, others, like Jason Lee, a senior majoring in management information systems and finance, take the registration process in stride.
"Eh, I just wait until the next day," said Lee.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
