Expect delays for print version of class schedule
Katherine J. White
Issue date: 11/16/05 Section: News
Some BC professors are not happy with the size of the wait list that BC administrators have allowed; according to Moya Arthur, BC philosophy professor, it is completely egregious to allow the list to expand to 25 so-called openings, she said.
"It's deceptive to allow a student who is 25 on the wait list to think he or she has a chance of getting into the class," Arthur said. "A student placed at 25 on the list doesn't have an ice cube's chance in hell of getting in."
According to Arthur, the wait list system should logically "reflect the likelihood or chance of a student getting into the class." In other words, Arthur says, the wait list should not go over a few slots and certainly there should not be as many as 25 to 30 alleged openings.
As for the printed schedule, Arthur said that it is the "best marketing tool BC has." However, Arthur believes that it would be best to go back to giving the printed schedule away for free, as was done in the past. Arthur pointed out the fact that BC's publication, "The Source" is given out for free, although the publication has some costs.
If "The Source," which has its costs, is free, than why not the printed course schedule as well? She asked.
"Which is more important?" Arthur queried.
The online schedule is inadequate, and the printed schedule's typical lateness is not acceptable, said Arthur. There is also a fallacious assumption that all students have access to computers. This assumption, said Arthur, defeats the "target aim" of BC; the "target aim" of BC is that BC is accessible. This assumption is "counter intuitive to our purpose," Arthur said. If BC develops a reputation for being accessible only to those with computers, then this would not be right, she said.
Speaking of the deceptiveness of the wait list system with its 25 "available" slots, Andrea Garrison, BC biology professor said that a student who is number 24 on the list is definitely not going to get into the class. This aspect of the wait list system, Garrison said, "undermines student confidence in the wait list system."
"It's deceptive to allow a student who is 25 on the wait list to think he or she has a chance of getting into the class," Arthur said. "A student placed at 25 on the list doesn't have an ice cube's chance in hell of getting in."
According to Arthur, the wait list system should logically "reflect the likelihood or chance of a student getting into the class." In other words, Arthur says, the wait list should not go over a few slots and certainly there should not be as many as 25 to 30 alleged openings.
As for the printed schedule, Arthur said that it is the "best marketing tool BC has." However, Arthur believes that it would be best to go back to giving the printed schedule away for free, as was done in the past. Arthur pointed out the fact that BC's publication, "The Source" is given out for free, although the publication has some costs.
If "The Source," which has its costs, is free, than why not the printed course schedule as well? She asked.
"Which is more important?" Arthur queried.
The online schedule is inadequate, and the printed schedule's typical lateness is not acceptable, said Arthur. There is also a fallacious assumption that all students have access to computers. This assumption, said Arthur, defeats the "target aim" of BC; the "target aim" of BC is that BC is accessible. This assumption is "counter intuitive to our purpose," Arthur said. If BC develops a reputation for being accessible only to those with computers, then this would not be right, she said.
Speaking of the deceptiveness of the wait list system with its 25 "available" slots, Andrea Garrison, BC biology professor said that a student who is number 24 on the list is definitely not going to get into the class. This aspect of the wait list system, Garrison said, "undermines student confidence in the wait list system."