At the beginning of the school year, longtime friends Elliot Crosswhite and Kevin Kahle, a 2008 University alumnus, developed the software program Regismart to help students register for classes. Regismart automatically signs users up for their preferred courses ­­— without them having to log on to DuckWeb.
The program requires students to pay $20 and plug in their student ID numbers, PAC numbers, desired course registration numbers, and individual registration times. Students can download the Regismart computer program, which operates like a web browser, directly from the product’s Web site, www.regismart.com. Students have the option to either register right away or set the program to register them at their registration time if it occurs during a class or early in the morning.
Though the program claims to make registration easier, many students call the software unfair and criticize the fee.
“Twenty dollars? I would never pay for that. My resources are better used elsewhere,” University freshman Travis Prinslow said. “I also think it’s really unfair.”
So far, Regismart only works at University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Portland State University and Lane Community College, but Crosswhite and Kahle are trying to market Regismart and get more students interested, even giving rebates to student groups such as clubs and fraternities and sororities that sign up members.
“We developed the program because we have a lot of friends that are students and have expressed concerns getting the classes they wanted,” Kahle said. “We were once students, so we know how difficult the process is.”
If a class fills up, the program will routinely check for openings every 10 minutes and register the student if it finds one.
Regismart representatives said the software is ideal for students who have had trouble securing seats in their preferred classes or are busy when registration opens.
“Whenever I have to register for classes, I either have an early registration time or I’m in class, so I’m really excited to use this program,” Regismart representative and University sophomore Daniel McTavish said.
Despite the software’s theoretical convenience, it is already being greeted with some skepticism because it could give Regismart users an advantage over the rest of the student body.
“Honestly, I think it’s stupid. I think it would definitely be unfair; it should be an even playing field for everyone,” University sophomore Toby Edwards said. “Right now it’s like each class registers for a certain time. It’s fine the way it is.”
Kahle, however, said Regismart actually eliminates the unfair disadvantage faced by students who have class or work when their registration period begins.
“With Regismart, everyone has the same opportunity,” he said. “I think that it really levels the playing field.”
[email protected]