[82lsju]

After four weeks of discussion, the Undergraduate Senate (UGS) unanimously passed the Joint Resolution on Support for Student-Athletes.

The bill intends to aid student-athletes during the integration process into the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which is projected to increase travel time in student-athletes’ busy schedules. UGS co-chair Diego Kagurabadza ’25 highlighted the bill’s intention to have the University reassess their current student-athlete accommodations in light of the switch to the ACC. The bill also suggests that the University implement priority course enrollment for student-athletes.

“Student-athletes make up about 12% of the undergraduate population […] so we should obviously take these concerns very seriously,” Kagurabadza said.

The bill was passed by the Graduate Student Council (GSC) earlier on Tuesday.

https://stanforddaily.com/2024/01/31/ugs...an-31-2024

[82lsju]

After four weeks of discussion, the Undergraduate Senate (UGS) unanimously passed the Joint Resolution on Support for Student-Athletes.

The bill intends to aid student-athletes during the integration process into the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which is projected to increase travel time in student-athletes’ busy schedules. UGS co-chair Diego Kagurabadza ’25 highlighted the bill’s intention to have the University reassess their current student-athlete accommodations in light of the switch to the ACC. The bill also suggests that the University implement priority course enrollment for student-athletes.

“Student-athletes make up about 12% of the undergraduate population […] so we should obviously take these concerns very seriously,” Kagurabadza said.

The bill was passed by the Graduate Student Council (GSC) earlier on Tuesday.

https://stanforddaily.com/2024/01/31/ugs...an-31-2024

[Softball Fan]

As far as I know UGS has limited power to do anything other than make their position known about an issue like this.  I'm against giving priority class registration to athletes.  Every student has good reasons for needing to take a course during a specific quarter.  I don't feel athletes should have a special advantage for course selection.

[Softball Fan]

As far as I know UGS has limited power to do anything other than make their position known about an issue like this.  I'm against giving priority class registration to athletes.  Every student has good reasons for needing to take a course during a specific quarter.  I don't feel athletes should have a special advantage for course selection.

[Mick]

As far as I know UGS has limited power to do anything other than make their position known about an issue like this.  I'm against giving priority class registration to athletes.  Every student has good reasons for needing to take a course during a specific quarter.  I don't feel athletes should have a special advantage for course selection.

Definitely agree. I remember trying to register for classes as an undergrad, and the athletes for our minor league, D2 program had first dibs. The furthest they ever had to travel was Humboldt. Didn't seem fair or correct.

[Mick]

As far as I know UGS has limited power to do anything other than make their position known about an issue like this.  I'm against giving priority class registration to athletes.  Every student has good reasons for needing to take a course during a specific quarter.  I don't feel athletes should have a special advantage for course selection.

Definitely agree. I remember trying to register for classes as an undergrad, and the athletes for our minor league, D2 program had first dibs. The furthest they ever had to travel was Humboldt. Didn't seem fair or correct.

[OCcardinal]

I'm against giving priority class registration to athletes.  Every student has good reasons for needing to take a course during a specific quarter.  I don't feel athletes should have a special advantage for course selection.

I disagree.  One of the advantages of Stanford vs, say, a public school like UCLA, is that it is rare for students to have difficulties enrolling in classes they need for their chosen academic field. That's one of the reasons people pick Stanford.  As long as they preserve priority registrations that already exist (e.g., a sophomore trying to enroll in an intro Psych course is given priority over frosh). I don't think giving athletes priority for given quarters would leave any students behind.  When the varsity athletes committed it was understood by both the athlete and Stanford that they would have to participate in those athletics activities.  But now, due to the university's decision to join the ACC, the university is imposing additional time commitments on the athletes that didn't exist when they committed.  I think Stanford needs to take steps to ensure they still are able to make adequate academic progress.  If they can do that without impeding on the ability of other students making adequate academic progress, then I support it (even though I have a non-varsity athlete student attending Stanford right now who wouldn't enjoy the same priority).

[OCcardinal]

I'm against giving priority class registration to athletes.  Every student has good reasons for needing to take a course during a specific quarter.  I don't feel athletes should have a special advantage for course selection.

I disagree.  One of the advantages of Stanford vs, say, a public school like UCLA, is that it is rare for students to have difficulties enrolling in classes they need for their chosen academic field. That's one of the reasons people pick Stanford.  As long as they preserve priority registrations that already exist (e.g., a sophomore trying to enroll in an intro Psych course is given priority over frosh). I don't think giving athletes priority for given quarters would leave any students behind.  When the varsity athletes committed it was understood by both the athlete and Stanford that they would have to participate in those athletics activities.  But now, due to the university's decision to join the ACC, the university is imposing additional time commitments on the athletes that didn't exist when they committed.  I think Stanford needs to take steps to ensure they still are able to make adequate academic progress.  If they can do that without impeding on the ability of other students making adequate academic progress, then I support it (even though I have a non-varsity athlete student attending Stanford right now who wouldn't enjoy the same priority).

[Goose]

One of the advantages of Stanford vs, say, a public school like UCLA, is that it is rare for students to have difficulties enrolling in classes they need for their chosen academic field. That's one of the reasons people pick Stanford.

Is there actually a problem to be "solved" here? It has been a very long time since I registered for classes at Stanford, but never once did I have any problem getting in. In a few required undergraduate classes (Western Civ, no longer an issue) you may not be able to get in at the time of day you wanted, but you could always get in an 0800 one :-). Athletes have some additional constraints, like practice times that can constrain them more than other students. They may also prefer to take fewer units in season which may get them "off sequence". AFAIK Stanford already gave preference to athletes affected by these constraints. It may have been "unofficial" (talk to the instructors), but it seemed to solve most problems. Is that no longer working?

[Goose]

One of the advantages of Stanford vs, say, a public school like UCLA, is that it is rare for students to have difficulties enrolling in classes they need for their chosen academic field. That's one of the reasons people pick Stanford.

Is there actually a problem to be "solved" here? It has been a very long time since I registered for classes at Stanford, but never once did I have any problem getting in. In a few required undergraduate classes (Western Civ, no longer an issue) you may not be able to get in at the time of day you wanted, but you could always get in an 0800 one :-). Athletes have some additional constraints, like practice times that can constrain them more than other students. They may also prefer to take fewer units in season which may get them "off sequence". AFAIK Stanford already gave preference to athletes affected by these constraints. It may have been "unofficial" (talk to the instructors), but it seemed to solve most problems. Is that no longer working?

[Softball Fan]

I'm against giving priority class registration to athletes.  Every student has good reasons for needing to take a course during a specific quarter.  I don't feel athletes should have a special advantage for course selection.

...it is rare for students to have difficulties enrolling in classes they need for their chosen academic field. 

I don't think giving athletes priority for given quarters would leave any students behind. 

If your position is students can enroll in classes without difficulty, then why give athletes priority?   Shouldn't athletes be able to enroll in classes without difficulty?

Also, students other than athletes engage in activities important to them other than classwork.

[Softball Fan]

I'm against giving priority class registration to athletes.  Every student has good reasons for needing to take a course during a specific quarter.  I don't feel athletes should have a special advantage for course selection.

...it is rare for students to have difficulties enrolling in classes they need for their chosen academic field. 

I don't think giving athletes priority for given quarters would leave any students behind. 

If your position is students can enroll in classes without difficulty, then why give athletes priority?   Shouldn't athletes be able to enroll in classes without difficulty?

Also, students other than athletes engage in activities important to them other than classwork.

[Farm93]

Why offer it if it's not a big deal in reality?

That's easy.   The course registration priority is a necessary recruiting tool.   A recruit worried about travel obligations and NIL commitments might wonder if everything is possible if they don't at least get priority for course registration.  At a lot of schools priority is a real benefit, but if one is not familiar with process they might think any school that doesn't offer that to athletes is immediately less desirable.

This is a benefit they probably will not really need at Stanford.

I really can't remember a time I could not enroll in a class.   Even in classes close to capacity by week #2 a lot of the course shoppers would have dropped down from 20 credits to 16 credits and there would be loads of available seats.  That's all from a Stanford perspective though.   If I didn't know that I would assume that most schools have crazy course enrollment challenges like one might find at some UCs and all CSUs.

The other element here is that the ACC travel is not just a distance thing.   When I think about college basketball on ESPN it seems as if there is always an ACC game on TV basically every weeknight.    I guess there is some structure to their schedule, but I would think our student athletes will need priority so they can enroll in classes that have the most favorable remote learning content and policies. 

FWIW - Those Tuesday night basketball games in Boston or North Carolina will be brutal for Stanford and Cal students.   They almost certainly will miss classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each time they have one of those games Tuesday evening games.   Athlete prioritization mitigates a potential issue for recruits, that is unlikely to actually impact Stanford students in reality.

FWIW2 - If I was a student on campus that prioritization for course enrollment would not be what I would see as unfair.   The ridiculously delicious athlete meals, the extensive academic support and the near guaranteed NIL money would be the types of things that might get me to wonder about unfair or unequal treatment.  Course prioritization for classes that are almost never full?  Meh.

[Farm93]

Why offer it if it's not a big deal in reality?

That's easy.   The course registration priority is a necessary recruiting tool.   A recruit worried about travel obligations and NIL commitments might wonder if everything is possible if they don't at least get priority for course registration.  At a lot of schools priority is a real benefit, but if one is not familiar with process they might think any school that doesn't offer that to athletes is immediately less desirable.

This is a benefit they probably will not really need at Stanford.

I really can't remember a time I could not enroll in a class.   Even in classes close to capacity by week #2 a lot of the course shoppers would have dropped down from 20 credits to 16 credits and there would be loads of available seats.  That's all from a Stanford perspective though.   If I didn't know that I would assume that most schools have crazy course enrollment challenges like one might find at some UCs and all CSUs.

The other element here is that the ACC travel is not just a distance thing.   When I think about college basketball on ESPN it seems as if there is always an ACC game on TV basically every weeknight.    I guess there is some structure to their schedule, but I would think our student athletes will need priority so they can enroll in classes that have the most favorable remote learning content and policies. 

FWIW - Those Tuesday night basketball games in Boston or North Carolina will be brutal for Stanford and Cal students.   They almost certainly will miss classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each time they have one of those games Tuesday evening games.   Athlete prioritization mitigates a potential issue for recruits, that is unlikely to actually impact Stanford students in reality.

FWIW2 - If I was a student on campus that prioritization for course enrollment would not be what I would see as unfair.   The ridiculously delicious athlete meals, the extensive academic support and the near guaranteed NIL money would be the types of things that might get me to wonder about unfair or unequal treatment.  Course prioritization for classes that are almost never full?  Meh.