The registration process has been one without deadlines for a long time. Starting next semester that is going to change. 

Currently there is no end point to the registration process. 

Students can register until the second week of classes.  

Many other schools have a registration period of one to two weeks. 

To come to a decision about the new registration period, the school looked at the registration process at other schools. They agreed that beginning with the registration for the Fall 2011 semester, A&T’s registration period would be for three or four weeks. 

Lori Hunter, the Interim Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management, feels registering for classes is the job of students. 

Yet only 53% of the students who were eligible to register for classes actually registered. Currently 2,795 students are not registered for classes. 

“It’s what students are here for. They don’t get registered in a timely fashion and it creates a chaotic system,” said Hunter.

Tony Grigsby, senior computer engineer major from Raleigh NC said, “I think it’s a good idea because most college students are procrastinators and this should help them by not allowing them to sit around and do nothing.”

If people do not register for the classes that they need on time, the staff and administrators do not know how many people need to take class and administrators cannot accurately plan classroom sizes. Not registering on time causes a number of issues. 

Without signing up for classes students cannot get financial aid. 

Also, the Resident Housing Association (RHA) does not have knowledge on how many students to expect in the dorms, which was one the factors that led students to staying in the hotel at the beginning of the semester.  

Another problem from not registering on time is the classes needed are being closed or not offered at all for the semester.

Registration has been open for six weeks. 

It is easier for the school to fix an issue such as classes that are closed if they know more students need the classes before the last minute. 

Many students who register late find that classes they need are closed. 

“How will we be able to balance need for classes by adding more if that need is brought up after classes have started,” asked Hunter. 

She also added that students say they are unsure if they will need to register for a class due to not passing a class they are currently in. 

Hunter advises them to sign up for the class because they can drop it if they need to.

 “Our goal is to see the students graduate,” said Hunter.  Part of that goal includes responsibility and accountability. “Students need to talk to their advisors and register. That’s their job. And they are not doing it,” added Hunter. 

In the real world there are deadlines and due dates. Students have to learn how to prepare for the real world. 

• Noma Vilane