Registration procedure for courses
Registration procedure for courses
Unless otherwise stated, courses with a limited number of participants are subject to the first come, first served procedure. Other registration rules must be specified when registering for the course. The registration procedure and options and, if applicable, an information text (e.g. for provisional registration with a preliminary meeting) that appears in StudIP should be specified.
Too many interested students - too few places
If the total number of seriously interested students is higher than the number of places available, a fair procedure must be found to determine the participants. There are several options for this:
First come, first served method
In the first come, first served method, participants are selected according to the date and time of registration (first come, first served). One option is to choose “provisional registration”, where the lecturer decides who is actually accepted. If necessary, you can also specify whether a waiting list should be kept from which you will automatically be placed.
Advantage: simple. There is nothing to do except specify the maximum number of participants and, if applicable, the above options when registering for the course.
Disadvantage: unfair. Students who can be online when the course is activated have an advantage. Students with a poor internet connection, with supervision tasks or students who are working at the time are at a disadvantage. Students in the first semester in particular, who may not receive their access data until much later, are clearly at a disadvantage.
Students must be given the opportunity to take all the necessary courses in a module.
Lottery
Stud.IP automatically draws lots to determine which of the registered students can take part in the course.
Advantage: simple
Disadvantage: Students who need or want to take a specific course to complete their studies may have to study for 1-2 semesters longer, which puts financially disadvantaged students at a disadvantage.
Students must be given the opportunity to take all the necessary courses in a module. Students from other study programmes are treated equally.
A combination with other options may be necessary under certain circumstances.
Many registrations - few participants
In some courses there are discrepancies between the number of students registered on StudIP and the number of students actually participating, which is often significantly lower. This makes planning and holding the courses more difficult and costs time and money. In addition, interested students may not be able to participate because it is not possible to move up. This general problem arises from the registration procedures for university courses. There are several options for achieving an improvement under the given conditions:
Provisional registration
Only provisional registration is possible in StudIP. A final registration is made by the teachers. The teachers ask for feedback by email after a reasonable period of time as to whether the student is actually participating. If not, the students are asked to unsubscribe.
Advantage: Legally unproblematic, as the action remains with the students.
Disadvantage: Not necessarily effective, as some students do not read their university emails.
Provisional registration with preliminary meeting
Only provisional registration is possible in StudIP. A final registration is made by the lecturers after attending a preliminary meeting. This has the advantage that students have to attend a preliminary meeting and thus express their serious interest in the event. Students who do not attend the preliminary meeting are not finally registered by the lecturers.
Advantage: The period between the preliminary meeting and the start of the event can be chosen so that targeted preparation for the event is possible.
Disadvantage: The lecturers have to plan and hold a preliminary meeting and manage the list of participants manually. The provisional registration must be entered when registering for the course. StudIP should also definitely indicate the registration modalities in order to avoid legal problems. A corresponding text that makes the conditions of participation transparent should be provided when registering for the course.
Binding registration
Students cannot deregister themselves. This may create a moral hurdle to registering for the event "just like that".
Advantage: simple
Disadvantage: Not necessarily effective, as the problem may still exist. Participants cannot deregister themselves, which can also lead to more work for the teachers.
Summary of all registration options
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Limited number of participants | A set number of places will be allocated. |
| Conditional registration | If the condition (e.g. semester, subject) is not met, the student will not be placed on the list (can be used for first come, first served and for the lottery process). |
| Preferred registration | People with the stored conditions (e.g. semester, subject) will be given preferential treatment (only makes sense for the lottery process). |
| Event-related registration | Participation in another event is necessary/prohibited in order to register for the event. |
| Registration for a maximum of n events | Example: Registration is permitted for a maximum of 1 exercise |
| Time-controlled registration | Example: Registration is possible from March 15th, 12:00 p.m. to May 15th, 11:00 p.m. |
| Registration with password; | Example: Participants are given a password with which they can register for an event. Without this password you will not be able to access the event. |
| Registration blocked | No participants can register |