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Non-transferable class registrations decided by lottery would solve this. Publicly visible, physical random number generation is important of course. With pre
by gorgoiler 2y ago
Non-transferable class registrations decided by lottery would solve this. Publicly visible, physical random number generation is important of course.
With pre-registration you can also get an idea of demand in advance, instead of having to post-hoc schedule additional classes (or concert tour dates, or airline flights, or PS5 units, or… etc.)
Non-transferability means the lottery is continuous. As soon as anyone relinquishes their class, the lottery will have to run again to reallocate. You could do this daily.
This is a technical solution that works but it overlooks the cultural side of a resource allocator wanting their resource to generate hype and demand, build up to the Big Event, and then sell out in “record time”. I can understand that a big part of University marketing is to try to seem as popular and oversubscribed as possible, even if I don’t agree with it.
Finally of course, the public RNG bit feels like the most interesting. A giant continuous dice tumbler in the middle of UW’s Red Square? The tumbler feels easy, but how would you make a physical ledger to record the dice rolls automatically?
- pc86 2y agoThe idea of transferring registration from one student to another without input from the university is bananas to me. But only slightly more stupid than not having waitlists which is the only reason that exists in the first place. My alma mater let people register in descending order of number of completed credits with a C or better (e.g. 2.0), and then GPA, in waves. Same with dorm sign ups which were required for everyone but seniors. It worked out great and professors always had enough slack to let special cases in if they felt compelled to. Making it random seems like a bad idea to me. It's "fair" only insofar as randomness is fair. For high-demand classes isn't it more "fair" that people who will graduate sooner and/or have done better in their classes thus far should have the first opportunity to get those classes?
- gorgoiler 2y agoI really like the point you make about randomness being bad as well, albeit in different ways. I’m not sure if I agree on the prior-grade route, not for freshmen at least but that does make a lot of sense for the later years. Overall, randomness, like democracy, might be the least worst option.
- pc86 2y agoIMO randomness removes accountability. Imagine needing a class to graduate and the gods of the PRNG don't allow you to register in time. Better to have at least one aspect within your control (e.g. completed credits or GPA). I'd much rather have to go to school for another semester because I'm lazy and drank too much than just getting cursed by bad luck.