AS I stood at the back of a crowded lecture hall amongthe huddled masses of wait-listed students yearning for a spot in class, it seemed as though something wasn't quite right. This feeling was echoed in all of my compatriots' eyes -- bloodshot from hours of staring at the "users exceeded" message on ISIS -- when we learned that there were more than 90 students on the wait list for a class of 110.
Unfortunately, this situation has been all too common this year, as the realities of budget crunches and professor shortages have been manifested through severe overcrowding in many of the University's most popular courses. This overcrowding is not only a headache for many students, but also a detriment to the University's quality of education and academic reputation.
The most direct consequences of the overcrowding of the courses are ultimately felt by students at the University. Indeed, because students in overcrowded departments are unable to enroll in many of their desired classes, large numbers of students have to fill out their schedules by roaming from class to class with a ream of course action forms and by joining electronic waitlists on ISIS. Since this system offers little degree of certainty as to prospects for course enrollment, it is very difficult for students to plan their academic future.
Moreover, because course overcrowding forces professors to give priority to students who need their class as a requirement for their major, students have difficulty enrolling in certain classes outside their major and the well-roundedness that is the foundation of the University's liberal arts education is harmed.
While course overcrowding decreases the quality of education for current students, it also hurts the University's academic reputation. Indeed, as accounts of overcrowding reach prospective students through word of mouth or through publications such a The Princeton Review, it becomes more difficult for the University to attract strong students. Thus, course overcrowding hurts the University's academic reputation and makes its diplomas less attractive commodities to graduate schools and future employers.
The University's administration appears to share students' concerns over this issue, as it has already taken small steps to alleviate the problem of course overcrowding. The most significant of these was to establish the electronic waitlist system in the Politics, Economics and Spanish Departments to replace the old system that functioned through frantic e-mails to professors and stacks of course action forms.
While this system has eliminated some of the hassles associated with enrollment in overcrowded courses, it could be improved if was extended to other departments. In addition, this system could be further enhanced if it offered students a more easily accessible means of determining the size of a class's waitlist as well as their position on the list. Finally, the University should also take steps to more promptly notify students when it becomes clear that they will not be accepted into a class.
While these provisions would decrease the level of uncertainty for waitlisted students, they do not address the budget shortfalls and professor shortages that are the primary cause of the University's problems with course overcrowding. These problems can only be addressed if the administration institutes major reforms that addresses the University's chronic under-funding and hires additional professors. Indeed as J. Milton Adams, Vice Provost for Academic Programs, stated, "We're just starting to recover from the budget cuts that occurred at the beginning of this decade."
While the charter initiative is the only major proposal currently being discussed as a means of ending the University's budget crunch, it is not necessarily the only way in which the administration could address this issue. Nevertheless, no matter what plan the administration uses to meet its funding problems, it must ensure that the reforms substantially improve the University's financial problems, and that it includes provisions to hire additional faculty.
While it is too late to address class overcrowding this semester, the University must attempt to address this problem for future students. If these measures are successful, not only will students no longer need to carry around course action forms, but the quality of education at the University will be substantially improved.
Adam Keith is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. He can be reached at akeith@cavalierdaily.com.
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