Opinion: CSUF class deficits disrupts student scheduling | Opinion

Liyah Sacueza is an assistant opinion editor of the Daily Titan. All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the Daily Titan as a whole.

Class registration is an unforgiving battleground that turns students into competitors over scarce resources. Panic over seats filling quickly and having to fight for a spot in a class is something many students are all too familiar with.

To reduce stress over class registration and maximize student success, Cal State Fullerton must take measures to accommodate demand for class sections amid the university’s large enrollment.

Limited class sections complicate students’ schedule-building by narrowing available options, making it harder to balance their time because a desired, consistent schedule is uncertain.

CSUF has seen major growth in newly admitted applicants, with the acceptance rate rising from 40.9% in fall 2015 to 61.2% in fall 2020, then jumping to an even higher rate of 82.5% in fall 2025.

The total number of enrolled students at CSUF has increased exponentially due to the influx in admissions each semester. As the student population grows steadily, the demand for class sections also increases.

Nina Bravo, a fourth-year English major, expressed her concern with CSUF’s inability to provide an adequate number of classes given the university’s growing student population.

“Because we have one of the biggest student populations of the CSU system, I think our class selections, the amount of professors we have, and all the resources should reflect that bigger responsibility,” Bravo said. “Right now, I feel like they don’t have a proper infrastructure to deal with our bigger student population.”

The competitiveness of class registration stems from the limited supply of session times and seats, forcing students to constantly adjust their routines to accommodate finite lecture times. Students often have to build their schedule around a singular class because of this limited availability.

Cornering students into routines that contradict their natural circadian rhythm results in reduced academic performance due to “social jet lag.”

“Social jet lag” is defined as the “discrepancy between biological time, determined by our internal body clock, and social times, mainly dictated by social obligations,” by the National Institute of Health.

According to research from UC Berkeley and Northeastern Illinois University, this coined “jet lag” hinders students’ alertness due to work and school scheduling conflicts.

“There’s only two sections offered, and it’s either an 8 a.m. class or 1-2:15. That makes it difficult for me personally because it conflicts with other classes I need to graduate, and it also conflicts with my work schedule,” Bravo said. “It’s difficult to find what I need just because of the scarcity of all the classes.”

Offering a wider array of class times to address varying student routines permits flexible student success. Expanding upon previously narrowed course times may allow more students to come to class with the intention to excel.

The class deficit proves itself to be an issue even for the university’s most densely populated majors, such as business and psychology.

Teo Reyes, a second-year business major, explained his experience of being left with undesirable class options, despite being part of one of CSUF’s largest majors.

“When I try to find classes, I just get the leftovers with all the night classes,” Reyes said. “A lot of times, because of my work schedule, I’m not able to take night classes.”

With the 22:1 student-faculty ratio growing, alongside the enrollment number, the 15-unit cap for full-time faculty members proves to be difficult in accommodating impacted majors, specifically the university’s 9,000 business students.

The limited class sections, impacting all fields, results in lost opportunities for students to expand and use their time to further their development.

Student struggle to build a maintainable schedule is catalyzed by CSUF’s registration hierarchy.

With first-time freshmen and transfers being assigned the last registration dates, their ability to enroll in essential courses is proven difficult. This delay in registration inherently leads to a delay in graduation, contributing to the 4.7 year timeline for first-time freshman graduation rates.

“Registration dates feel like a free-for-all,” Reyes said. “It feels like I have to take what’s left instead of taking the classes that I find interesting.”

When scheduling demands can’t be met, students’ outlook on their own success at CSUF faces a major roadblock.

Doubt about the university’s ability to provide an opportunistic experience can undermine students’ perceptions of the campus and ultimately push current or potential applicants towards other opportunities.

The class sections offered play an important role in a student’s path to graduation and reflect CSUF’s ability to offer a worthwhile experience. Students should be able to pursue a degree with supplemental resources and opportunities that aid their journey towards success.