Kendall Moffett | Staff Writer
As the semester comes to an end, registration for next semester is ahead, which leaves many of us wondering whether we will graduate on time or take on more student loan debt.
Let’s face it, the registration system is outdated, creating more stress and forcing students who need specific courses to delay graduation or struggle to secure enough funding to continue their education.
Florida International University has a trend of admitting more freshmen than seats for courses, which spikes demand and leaves students competing for the same classes.
The situation is worse when students abuse programs and accommodation systems that allow early registration. FIU’s Disability Resource Center serves more than 3,500 students and provides priority registration as a part of its service. However, when these systems are poorly coordinated or updated, students who may not need the accommodation leave actual students in need without accommodations in a harsh cycle of overcrowding.
The same concern applies to the Honors College. While the program fosters academic excellence, its admission process is semi-selective. This flexibility can be misused by students who join primarily for the benefit of early registration, rather than for the academic rigor the program is designed to provide.
It’s frustrating when FIU already admits more students than it can handle and pours more gas into the fire when systems used for those who need it are abused and cause a disadvantage to other students.
Registration challenges also trickle down to faculty employment and course offerings. Like other public universities in Florida, FIU faces constraints in hiring faculty and course expansion due to state-level funding approvals. Although FIU receives operating funds, $645 million in performance-based funding, and $3.9 billion in the operating budget for the State University System, it only prioritizes metrics rather than immediate student needs, like overcrowded classes and advising shortages.
The result of this is mismatched schedules where students end up with classes that don’t align with their degree plan. Additionally, some face delayed graduation when they end up missing required courses, pushing graduation back by whole semesters, and adding to the cost of student loan debt.
Not to mention, FIU’s graduation rate for a regular four-year span is 46%. This only shows that students face graduation delays when their required courses are unavailable.
Every semester, it gets harder as I’m closer to finishing my degree. I’m filled with anxiety when I check my shopping cart every morning before registration to find the available seats decreasing until fewer than half are available.
Registration shouldn’t feel like the Hunger Games, where students fight for spots in classes we all need and pay for. Without timely access to required courses, students risk a lot.
An effective registration system prioritizes expanding high-demand sections based on admission numbers. Allocating funding for faculty hires in oversubscribed majors. And strengthening advising systems that use predictive analytics to flag students at risk of delayed graduation, and ensure they get into required classes.
Education should be accessible. Students should not have to battle every semester to secure it. Revising the registration system is a necessary step toward reducing unnecessary debt, graduation delays, and a fair chance at success.
DISCLAIMER:
The opinions presented on this page do not represent the views of the PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect the perspectives of contributing writers and/or university community members.
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