The University's Integrated Student Information System Task Force recommended that Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credits no longer be a component of the course hours used to determine the order of course registration. The recommendation comes days after the University modified priority registration for some athletes and scholarship students.
The ISIS Task Force was created to streamline the operation of the current system while a replacement information technology system is under development. In the meantime, the group has recommended this change in registration as well as about 30 other changes to the ISIS system, some of which have already been put in place, explained J. Milton Adams, vice provost for academic programs.
Adams said the changes which are already in affect, appear to have "alleviated" some of the problems students encounter when using ISIS.
"The ideal case is to provide an infinite number of seats in classes, but that's not possible," Adams said.
In the current system, some students "could conceivably graduate early" because their AP and IB credits allow them to register for courses -- including small, upper-level courses -- before older students.
Adams added that the current policies relating to transfer credits would not be affected by the priority change.
The idea for the switch in priority registration was also based upon "socio-economic" considerations, said Kathryn Serra, co-chair of the Academic Affairs Committee of Student Council.
"AP credits and the number of credits you come in [with] tend to be directly proportional to the type of school you went to," Serra said. "The less fortunate kids are coming in with fewer credits ..."
Registration based upon AP and IB priority furthers academic gaps between students of different economic backgrounds, Serra explained.
"When you let those credits factor in like that, you're letting [affluent students] get better professors, better classes ... fueling that cycle where the wealthy kids are skimming off the top," she said. "Having those inequalities in high school would be perpetuated on the college level -- considering we're a public university our whole egalitarian purpose would be undermined."
Reactions to the proposed registration changes have been mixed.
Second-year College and former AP student Sarah Goss said it is difficult for older students to get into the classes they need when younger students have a registration advantage.
"I think it makes sense for students to register based upon when they intend to graduate not when they could graduate," she said.
The lack of recognition of AP and IB credits in determining registration, however, could deter some students from coming to the University and could also leave many high-school students unmotivated, third-year Commerce student Jason Mollengarden said.
At the same time, Mollengarden, who entered the University with 42 AP credit hours, said the actual registration assistance had little effect on his first semester schedule.
"I was taking a lot of big intro classes anyway, so I don't think it really helped."
Read More
U.Va. loses over $60 million in federal research cuts
By Bertie Azqueta | YesterdayThe impacted grants include three from the NIH, seven from the NEH, one from the United States Agency for International Development and four from the State Department.
Department of Education reverses course, awards Federal Executive Institute to U.Va.
By Ford McCracken | 4 days agoThe ED had previously awarded the institute to Charlottesville City Schools.
Students reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis
By Bertie Azqueta | 5 days agoAt the University, students shared a range of perspectives on his legacy of reform, inclusivity and his impact on the global Catholic community.
