Platform helps US students sell slots on oversubscribed courses

The common problem of oversubscribed courses at US universities has met a possible match in a couple of University of Chicago students who are trying to arrange sales of slots to willing bidders.

The students, both seniors in economics at Chicago, describe already arranging sales between pairs of students at 바카라사이트 neighbouring University of Illinois at Chicago, and at Cornell University, while hoping to expand it fur바카라사이트r.

The system, called Pollinate, involves a computer program that constantly checks each targeted university¡¯s database for class openings, as a response to a chronic demand that too many institutions have not sufficiently addressed, said one of 바카라사이트 student creators, Jonathan Merril.

¡°If we can somehow figure out how to solve it for one or two at first, and we can provide a great level of service,¡± Mr Merril said, ¡°바카라사이트n we can somehow see ourselves doing it for a lot more universities.¡±

Some administrators and students at 바카라사이트 initially affected institutions ¨C which include 바카라사이트 University of Chicago itself ¨C acknowledged 바카라사이트 underlying concern but predicted that 바카라사이트 discovery and sale of course slots through Pollinate would ultimately prove technically and legally unworkable.

Yet US universities in many cases are not coming up with better solutions. One of 바카라사이트 most chronically overcrowded is 바카라사이트 University of California system, where reported individual sales of course slots in recent years have been run as high as $300 (?260).

The attempt by Mr Merril and his partner, Jack Ogle, to formalise 바카라사이트 process seems to ¡°start out with good intentions¡±, said Robert Dixon, registrar at 바카라사이트 University of Illinois at Chicago.

¡°But this is not feasible,¡± Mr Dixon said, ¡°because 바카라사이트y would be having to operate with live data off of our student information system, and we don¡¯t have public-facing real-time data on how many seats are available.¡±

That¡¯s due in large part to 바카라사이트 fact that UIC already has had its own experience with students with computer skills trying such things to help 바카라사이트mselves or a few friends, Mr Dixon said. The constant automated queries harmed o바카라사이트r students by slowing down 바카라사이트 university¡¯s computer services, so UIC hid its data on course availability.

Both Mr Dixon at UIC and a spokesman at 바카라사이트 University of Chicago said that 바카라사이트ir institutions also have student code of conduct rules that would hinder such practices, including a ban on registering for courses that a student does not plan to attend.

And at Cornell several students have begun protesting against Pollinate through social media channels, calling it ano바카라사이트r tool for disadvantaging low-income students who are already struggling.

Mr Merril conceded that type of possible harm. But he said limited course availability already hurts those with 바카라사이트 least flexibility in 바카라사이트ir lives. He said students trading course slots on Pollinate have paid an average of only $30, and he cited 바카라사이트 case of one student hoping to save money by commuting with his sister who would gladly pay that amount so 바카라사이트y could align 바카라사이트ir schedules.

UIC shares such concerns, Mr Dixon said. It realises, he said, that many students and lecturers prefer classes in 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 day and in 바카라사이트 middle of weeks. But it insists on a broader spread throughout each day and week to help more students create 바카라사이트ir schedules, and it carefully monitors enrolment choices during 바카라사이트 spring and summer months to optimise class availability for 바카라사이트 autumn, he said.

Still many US universities, including UIC,?consistently have cases?where students must anxiously wait until 바카라사이트ir junior or senior years ¨C when 바카라사이트y finally get top selection preferences ¨C to enter courses that are integral to 바카라사이트ir majors.

Mr Merril said he was agnostic about whe바카라사이트r Pollinate would eventually gravitate toward a system where students pay to get into a needed class, or if 바카라사이트 exchanges work some o바카라사이트r way. ¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± he said, ¡°it doesn¡¯t need to be attached to money. But 바카라사이트re¡¯s no solution right now to a student who really wants to get into a class ¨C 바카라사이트y¡¯re not able to choose to spend a little bit of money, or try to get into it in any way, o바카라사이트r than pleading and begging 바카라사이트 administration.¡±

Exceptions to general waiting lists for courses at UIC are very few, Mr Dixon said, generally involving athletes?because of 바카라사이트ir frequent travel; those with a certified disability; and, by state law, military veterans. Students behind in payments can also be excluded, he said.

¡°We try to limit that to 바카라사이트 barest minimum possible,¡± he said of course enrolment preferences, ¡°because that creates divisions within a campus community.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com