Undergraduate students in the Foster School of Business experienced frustration in attempting to gain add codes for business courses during the first week of winter quarter. Students in one finance section filled every chair of the classroom, forcing the overflow of students to find a place to sit on a radiator and on the floor as 18 unregistered students hoped to gain an add code to join the class.

Stephanie Payne, a senior pursuing a double degree in finance and Spanish, was one of 15 students attempting to receive an add code to Finance 454.

“I wasn’t informed I didn’t get into the class until Friday, which is frustrating because I sacrificed a lot of time to go to those classes,” Payne said.

Not all business students have had problems registering for the classes they wanted.

“I had no problem getting into all of my courses,” said Daraun Prince, a senior pursuing a degree in finance and a certificate in international business.

With graduating senior priority, most seniors who will graduate spring quarter got into the classes they needed. Those graduating in autumn 2009 or winter 2010, however, experienced difficulty registering for classes.

“This is the first time I’ve been unable to gain entry into a class, even with diligent effort,” said Payne, who anticipates graduating in autumn 2009.

The business school altered its add code policy this quarter, complicating the process for students in Payne’s position. Previously, add codes were left to the discretion of professors. Under the new policy, professors send a list of hopeful students to the Undergraduate Business Programs Office, which then determines if students will receive add codes based on the student’s gradation date and whether the desired course is needed for the student to graduate.

While the policy is meant to ensure that students who a need a class for graduation get top priority, it poses a unique problem for some students. The business school may determine a student can take a course at a later date, which often conflicts with scheduling for a second degree or a study abroad program.

“This new policy doesn’t give you the chance to present unique circumstances to a professor or advisor because it’s determined by graduation date,” Payne said.

The Business School increased the number of courses offered for the 2008-2009 academic year during its January 2008 planning session. The finance department increased course offerings again in autumn quarter by approximately 15 percent, and again by approximately 11 percent this quarter.

“Students will feel it is worse this year than it has been in the past, and that is because of budget cuts, faculty limitations and classroom limitations,” said Vikki Haag Day, director of undergraduate business programs.

The business school has been unable to hire additional faculty because of the university-wide hiring freeze.

The construction of PACCAR Hall has further complicated course offerings. Course times have been rescheduled for late afternoons to work around construction hours. These late-afternoon classes have affected students who also participate in extracurricular activities or work part-time jobs.

“It is difficult to attend the afternoon-only classes and manage school clubs,” said Prince. “I can’t go to club meetings because of the construction. I have a seminar that goes halfway through my Alpha Kappa Psi (business fraternity) meetings. We pray we will get let out of class early so we can be late to our meetings.”

According to Day, courses will return to their regular times next year because the remaining construction on PACCAR Hall will be interior work.

The business school is currently working to put together a course forecast for the 2009-2010 academic year. Professors are being asked how many sections they need, and the undergraduate office is working to increase popular sections.

“The challenge posed is that a popular option now might not be popular a year from now,” said Day. “Finance was popular because we had a booming economy, but now we’re not sure if the interest in finance will continue to sustain its current levels throughout next year. We are maximizing the resources we have. We won’t be able to run classes with low enrollment, but we won’t cut back on popular classes. But we’re still very early in the planning stages.”

Reach contributing writer Michael Truong at news@dailyuw.com.