Registration opened for all Delta College students on Oct. 28 but priority registration opened two weeks earlier on Oct. 14.
Everyone knows the struggle of applying for classes and either getting wait-listed or denied because the class is too full. Priority registration for more students could help the process and make it easier for both students and faculty.
Delta defines priority registration by using three different groups based on the importance of registering.
The first group includes student parents, homeless students, foster kids, or any veteran or active duty service member. The second is reserved for special populations for students like elected officials or student-athletes. Finally, when you reach the third group, you get returning students based on how many units you have taken at Delta.
Director of Marketing and Communications Alex Breitler gives some clarification about priority registration and lists reasons why athletes in particular get priority registration.
“Generally speaking, the idea behind priority registration is to give students in certain groups who face certain challenges more equitable access to classes.” Breitler said, “Student athletes, in particular, have strict practice, travel, and game schedules that make it difficult to fit in classes during traditional times.”
Breitler also says how it can help athletes in the classroom.
“Many student-athletes are looking to transfer and have limited time due to eligibility limits. Priority registration ensures they can get into required courses each term, reducing the risk of falling behind.”
For assistance, you can go to a counselor but you must register online because in-person registration is not available. In your MyDelta you should be able to register by using the steps on Delta College’s website.
Some students think returning students should have more benefits when it comes to registration, specifically over high schoolers coming in for their first years of college.
Business student Teaghan Gallego had a tough time registering last semester because of the priority registration for high school kids coming in and didn’t get into two classes as a result.
“I do think there is a problem with registration. I tried to take an ethnic studies and a history class but it said the registration was closed because it was only reserved for incoming high school students or students with priority registration.” Gallego said, “I think the groups they use are ridiculous. Returning students should be higher than group 3 and definitely should have priority over high school students just so we can get our degrees done quicker.”
Returning students like Gallego shouldn’t have these issues trying to register for classes. Gallego says priority registration is very important and can motivate students to perform better and to do more around campus like volunteer work or extracurricular activities.
However, some students enjoy priority registration and think Delta needs to add more opportunities for students to earn priority registration.
Anthony Coleman is an EOPS student meaning he is in group one and has priority over all students.
“I was guaranteed a spot in all my classes and I feel that was great, it made registering simple,” he said
Students like Coleman are more likely to return to Delta than Gallego because they are assisted more with the registration process.
Coleman agrees with Gallego that it is unfair for high schoolers to get priority over returning students but argues why Delta is doing that.
“I agree that it is totally unfair that incoming first-year students get the same services that I do but I understand why the school does that. It makes it more likely for someone coming out of high school or questioning their choices to register for a couple classes and if they don’t like it they can drop them and not continue,” Coleman said.
