2008 Woodie Awards
Debating Whether to Extend Add/Drop
Mandy Frank
Issue date: 4/11/06 Section: News
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The add/drop period is a fundamental aspect of the academic process. During the first two weeks of each semester the registrar's office is busier than ever.
Students must quickly decide whether to stay in a challenging class, or what they will do if they cannot get in to a class they desperately need. Professors must adjust to new faces and re-adjust on a daily basis until the add/drop period is over.
The add/drop period at UVM is ten academic days. The question on many students and faculty member's minds is, is the add/drop period too long or not long enough?
"My parents are going to kill me if I fail another class!" freshman Meg Lesnikoski exclaimed upon receiving her first physics grade of the semester. It is too late to drop the class and if Meg withdraws she will receive the dreaded "W" on her transcript.
"This is my first grade, how was I supposed to know that I would fail in the first two weeks of school? It's not fair!" Meg protested. Does Meg have a valid point?
Is it possible for students to know enough about a course and whether it is a proper fit within the two-week add/drop period? Many students feel that the add/drop period should be extended. There are many variables that play a role when deciding to stay in a class or not.
What is the professor like? How much reading is involved? Is the class at 8am? These are some of the questions students ask themselves when trying to decide whether or not a class is worth taking. It also must be considered that if one decides to stay in a class and then has to drop it later, they will be penalized.
Others feel that the add/drop period should be extended in hopes that they will be able to add a class. If the period were longer maybe more students that don't want to be in a specific course would drop it, thus making room for a student that wants to be in the class.
Faculty members on the other hand feel quite the opposite. "It has been my experience that late ads very rarely - almost never - make good students. They're people who are trying to fill a time slot or are in desperate need of credits rather than people who are taking a course because they're interested. They rarely feel motivated to do well, and generally contribute little to the class. I think the add/drop period should be a week shorter," Professor Thornton said.
Students must quickly decide whether to stay in a challenging class, or what they will do if they cannot get in to a class they desperately need. Professors must adjust to new faces and re-adjust on a daily basis until the add/drop period is over.
The add/drop period at UVM is ten academic days. The question on many students and faculty member's minds is, is the add/drop period too long or not long enough?
"My parents are going to kill me if I fail another class!" freshman Meg Lesnikoski exclaimed upon receiving her first physics grade of the semester. It is too late to drop the class and if Meg withdraws she will receive the dreaded "W" on her transcript.
"This is my first grade, how was I supposed to know that I would fail in the first two weeks of school? It's not fair!" Meg protested. Does Meg have a valid point?
Is it possible for students to know enough about a course and whether it is a proper fit within the two-week add/drop period? Many students feel that the add/drop period should be extended. There are many variables that play a role when deciding to stay in a class or not.
What is the professor like? How much reading is involved? Is the class at 8am? These are some of the questions students ask themselves when trying to decide whether or not a class is worth taking. It also must be considered that if one decides to stay in a class and then has to drop it later, they will be penalized.
Others feel that the add/drop period should be extended in hopes that they will be able to add a class. If the period were longer maybe more students that don't want to be in a specific course would drop it, thus making room for a student that wants to be in the class.
Faculty members on the other hand feel quite the opposite. "It has been my experience that late ads very rarely - almost never - make good students. They're people who are trying to fill a time slot or are in desperate need of credits rather than people who are taking a course because they're interested. They rarely feel motivated to do well, and generally contribute little to the class. I think the add/drop period should be a week shorter," Professor Thornton said.