By Ashley Oliver
York College students express their frustration at the registrar’s office’s failure to notify and advise them when changes are made to registered classes.
Frequent crashes of the CUNYFirst system appear to be partially at fault for the communication gap between the registrar’s office and students. Sophomore, Geneva Harrison, says, “Students rely on CUNYFirst to see the status of their enrollment, so when the program doesn’t work, our only place to go is the registrar’s office and they don’t even assist us properly.” Swantanter Polce, president of the National Honor Society, says, “Communication in the registrar’s office sucks! It is so frustrating that we have to go on a wild goose chase just to get information about our classes!”
Students’ unwillingness to read informational documents regarding deadlines for registration and protocol for dropping classes are contributing factors for the communication gap. Joyce Palmer, a college assistant in the registrar’s office, says, “Students don’t read! That’s the problem. We notify students about getting dropped or switching a class before we actually drop them. The information is online on the York College website under calendar. Another problem is that students need to put their main e-mail address so they can actually receive the information we send them concerning their classes. If not, I don’t know how they expect to get the information. They expect to be fed information concerning their classes, but this ain’t highschool.”
Starr Ferrens, a member of York’s Disability Accommodations in the Student Development Office, believes that the communication between faculty and students has dwindled over the years. She says, “The information is not organized at all. I get it, it’s a digital world now, but you can’t always rely on electronics to give you information that you need. All faculties should step up to the plate and be more involved with students.”
Students’ demands for changes in the practices of the registrar office have been escalating. Club Council President for York’s student government, Haroon Hasaan, says, “I got screwed when the registrar randomly dropped one of my classes. They need to give us a personal call or at least an e-mail beforehand.” He believes that the registrar does not inform students on their rights. Hasaan says, “Flyers about registration aren’t enough! A college is a business and we’re the customers. But they don’t treat us like customers. They treat us like we’re here to serve them.”
Senior, Shavon Richards, says, “I understand that the registrar puts information regarding our enrollment and deadlines online, but us students pay for our education and expect to have better services since we are helping to fund the school’s budget.” Betsy Mill, another concerned senior, says, “It’s bothersome that the registrar isn’t more proactive with getting information about classes to the students.” Eric Ortiz, a senior preparing to graduate, says, “The miscommunication in the registrar’s office is an administrative error and it is irresponsible. I am bewildered that after four years of coming to York that registration and classes randomly getting dropped without proper notice is still an issue. Students are left in the dark. I don’t know if it’s a budget problem or if they blatantly just don’t care.”
Students’ disapproval of the practices of the registrar’s office has been acknowledged by student representatives. Assistant Director of Student Activities at York, Anthony Andrews says, “It’s the responsibility of the students to express their concerns about troubles they face with the registrar, or else their voice would not be heard.” Furthermore, York’s Student Government President, Shaikh Amin, stresses that students be more involved. He says, “Students need to be more assertive, but I do think there is not enough advertising from the registrar’s office sometimes to inform students about what is going on with their scheduling.”
Haroon Hasaan, Club Council President, says, “The registrar’s office does their job to an extent, but there should be a work study program so students can work in the registrar. That way, there will be fewer problems since they know what difficulties students face with getting classes with CUNYFirst. But if students want to be heard, they must write complaints in ink and give it to us.” The student government is here to serve the students by helping to solve issues students have. Hasaan says, “Students need to step up and voice their opinions. If you do not step up regarding your registration to certain classes, how do you expect others to step up for you?”