Council to discuss registration policies

The ability to register for classes after the semester has begun could no longer be an option for some students.

This topic will be discussed at an upcoming meeting for the Academic and Campus Affairs Council (ACAC) on April 1 at Highland Business Center.

Currently, ACAC along with the Student Services Council and several other student support-focused groups and shared governance channels are in the process of reviewing a proposal that would eliminate late registration but keep a two day add/drop period during the first week of class.

The reason for the possible change, according to Vice President of Instruction Mike Midgley, is because of recent studies conducted at various colleges that showed lower success rates from students who registered late.

One of the studies, administered by San Jacinto College in Houston in the fall of 2008, showed that, out of the 1,300 students who register for classes late, nearly half of them either failed or dropped out. Because of this recurring trend, the college has banned late registration.

But the San Jacinto study was just one of many.

"There is a lot of extensive research that shows that students who enroll for the first time after classes have already begun tend to not do as well as students who enroll in classes before they start," said Midgley.

The proposal was first introduced in October 2009 as part of the college's Student Success Initiative (SSI), an institution-wide program aimed to dramatically increase student success rates.

"Initially, the proposal stated that there wouldn't be any add/drops, and all registration would end at the same time," said Midgley. "Now, the SSI steering committee has proposed the idea of registration for new students stopping prior to classes beginning, instead of extending into the first week."

Midgley said the first two days of the semester would still be add/drop days.

But although the goal of removing late registration is geared toward increasing student success, some worry that such a notion would limit access for some students.

"I think some folks hesitate because they see it as a potential restriction. They see it as a barrier because it does limit access to some students. And that is a probable outcome, at least initially, until students get used to the new schedule and become accustomed to it."

Midgley said students who miss the registration deadline will still be able to register for 12-week courses. However, he noted that the assortment of classes offered during that time is often very limited.

Another objection could be a short-term budget implication, which Midgley said has happened at colleges who have adopted a similar resolution.

"I don't think it will have a dramatically significant impact [on the budget], but I think in the long run, if it is indeed implemented, students would become accustomed to the new cut-off dates," he said.

On Friday, April 1, the ACAC will hold another meeting in which they will discuss the proposal further. Should the initiative pass, the last step will be getting President Kinslow to sign it.  

Midgley said he hopes the proposal is close to being finalized.

"We have traditionally been an open-access institution, and we still are. We want everyone to enroll and do well, but for the last couple of years, we've been putting a lot more emphasis on helping students succeed and finding ways to do that, and we think this is one of those ways."

Previously, the proposal was on the agenda at the past two ACAC meetings. However, the Feb. 4 meeting was canceled due to inclement weather and the March 4 meeting was canceled because not enough members were in attendance to conduct a quorum.

To read more about late registration and add/drop dates visit theaccent.org