Harvard to amend course registration procedure

Though the "shopping period" system may be a time-honored tradition in Cambridge, Harvard University faculty would prefer a more organized process that echoes Princeton's preregistration system.

Earlier this month, 1,250 Harvard students petitioned the proposed change to their course registration process that is set to go into effect this fall.

"It was important that administrators know that students were concerned about the change," said Harvard sophomore Nicholas F. Josefowitz, who helped organize the petition. "Shopping period is an institution that we value as students."

"Shopping period" is the first week of the semester at Harvard when students try out many classes before they turn in their course cards to register their schedule.

"Most students shop about six to eight classes on average, but almost everyone does shop to some extent," Harvard sophomore Justin Fernandez said.

Harvard's new method, which will be in place this fall for Spring 2004 class selection, will include early advisor meetings, preregistration of classes and a one week add/drop period at the beginning of the semester.

At the University, the system has proved to be effective for the last thirty years, deputy registrar Robert Bromfield said. "It has benefits to not only the departments, but to the students through the advising system," he said in an interview.

Departments are able to get a sense of the demand for particular courses, can hire preceptors early, and request rooms with specific features long before classes begin.

"There are some benefits to a shopping period-like system, like the exposure to different classes beyond requirements," Bromfield said. But, he felt that the negative aspects of such a system — "a disruptive first week and enrollments in flux" — far outweigh the positives.

Preregistration numbers are important for planning popular courses like POL 210, with over 400 students and eight preceptors. The course administrator, Mark Colby, felt that the information gained through the early process was "critical" in preparing for a large class like this.

But the system does not mean that students are locked into their courses and cannot "shop" around for classes. The free add/drop period is actually one week longer than Harvard's current system, offering students more time to create their schedule while affording professors a general idea of their class roster.

"After looking through the registrar's Course Offerings, I check the Student Course Guide, and based on the reviews and structure of the classes, I go and try the ones I am interested in," said Shoum Chakravarti '05, the editor of the SCG, who narrowed an initial choice of ten classes down to five.

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With a response from the Harvard administration that there is no chance that shopping period will remain in its current form, Josefowitz has refocused his efforts on trying to make the plan more student-friendly.

"Most of the faculty don't understand how valuable it is to students," he said.

If Princeton's system is any indication, Harvard students and faculty may be able to implement a process that will satisfy both parties.