IU dealing with high enrollment

With enrollment increasing each year, IU students are dealing with more tightly packed classes and registering for the classes they want. Roland Cote, associate vice chancellor for enrollment services and registrar, said no plans are in the works, however, to extend class hours from the current 8:00 a.m. to 9 p.m. timeframe.\nEnrollment at IU is gradually increasing with full-time graduate and undergraduate students at an all-time high in 2003-2004.\nThis increase leads to another in class size, and a demand for more credit hours. According to the 2002-2003 fall enrollment reports put out by the office of the registrar, there is currently a significant change in credit hours taken by students at the undergraduate and graduate course levels. Credit hours have risen by 2.7 percent in the fall of 2002-2003, compared to the 1.1 percent rise in the fall of 1997-1998. \nThe number of class sections has increased by 20.9 percent, while the number of class sections requiring a classroom has risen by 17.3 percent during 2002-2003. \nSince 1995, the classroom pool has only grown by five rooms.\nCote said the decompression of classes throughout the day and across the five-day week could allow students to have more opportunities to select required courses without conflicts of interest. With more space available and more options, students will be less likely to have conflicts with classes and other activities.\n"More choices, even among existing course offerings, means more opportunities for students to take full advantage of the academic experience," Cote said.\nBusiness student and sophomore Brandon Karpeles said he agrees. Karpeles said many times when scheduling classes, he runs into scheduling conflicts.\n"If I am not given options, I am forced into taking classes I do not really want to take -- or would rather take at other times," he said. "When I have to go to class all day, Monday through Friday, it would be nice to have the option to block classes together. I would actually be able to accomplish everything I have to do throughout the week."\nKarpeles said the gaps between classes often limit his activities. \n"Doing different things and getting involved is all part of the college experience," Karpeles said. "But on many days, I have two-hour gaps in between classes where I could be doing other things, which makes it a lot harder to manage my time."\nKarpeles said extending hours wouldn't be a viable option.\n"It sure would be nice to have more options for selecting classes, but I can't imagine what state of mind I would be in at a 10 p.m. class," Karpeles said. "Class that late or that early, just wouldn't seem right"