Camryn Sanchez ’21

Over the past several years, SLC professors could prioritize up to six students in their seminars during registration. However, the college removed this priority option in the fall and will not reinstate it for the spring semester, Registrar Daniel Licht confirmed on November 23rd.

“Normally, faculty have the option of indicating priorities with students they would like to join the class based upon interviews. This year that isn’t happening because interviews are not mandatory,” explained Licht. “The college recognizes that students are all over the world, and sometimes in circumstances that don’t allow them to interview. Since interviews aren’t taking place, faculty aren’t submitting priorities.”

There have been many concerns and misconceptions about registration priority this year. Some students believe only seniors benefit from faculty priority –– which is not the case. Others are misinformed about the number of students professors can prioritize.

Now that faculty priority has been removed, students are unclear as to why. Malaika Braverman ’23, for example, guessed that faculty priority was removed by faculty to make classes more mixed with all levels of students.

Seniors appear frustrated by this abrupt change, as many approach graduate school and job applications in preparation for life post-graduation. A large percentage of seniors were bumped from seminars this year. “It’s kind of problematic to yank it away for a year,” said Aaron Conover ’21.

Conover says he has met his official grad school requirements, but when he was bumped this year he worries it could still affect him. “Next semester, I’m looking at some classes that would really help with grad school,” said Conover. “So if I don’t get into those, you’re impeding my chances of succeeding post graduation.”

Seniors are not the only ones unhappy with the change. “I know that getting bumped sucks, but I think it’s a lot worse when you’re in your last year, last semester at Sarah Lawrence, especially when you’ve been trying to get into one class for a long time,” said Braverman. “We pay so much to go to Sarah Lawrence, so it’s better if you can take the classes you want while you’re there.”

Regardless of student dissatisfaction, Licht expects that faculty priorities will not return until interviews can resume in person.

No class registration priorities in the spring, Registrar Licht confirms