Illinibucks
This seems like a very interesting topic, and I feel it relates to the previous prompts as well. I feel that the idea of Illinibucks seems like a practical one. This concept reminds me of the café credits concept a bit, as everyone has a limited amount. I feel that the practical uses of Illinibucks would be to get better seats in a lecture, sporting event, priority registration, food at the dining hall, a better parking spot and seat at the library. These are just some of the uses I could think of. I feel this concept would only be useful if you want to prioritize one or two things. Since every student has the same amount of Illinibucks it would seem to make sense to spend it on one or two things rather than hoard it as there is no incentive to currently hold on to Illinibucks. For example, I personally would spend all my Illinibucks on priority registration for Stat400. In the previous blog posts I spoke about having to be opportunistic to gain registration as it was quite difficult to register in a ‘fair’ way. With the use of Illinibucks this would make my life a lot easier as I would buy myself to the ‘head of the line’ to get priority registration. I really would not have any other use, as I manage to plan my schedule ahead of time so once registration opens up I just have to add the CRN. The majority of the time this does seem to work out. However, at times the section I want becomes full and I have to reschedule. I guess one possible way to avoid this is by the use of Illinibucks. However, I said that I would spend the majority/all on registration for Stat400. I would then use opportunism to register for a popular class and leverage that to what I want, without spending additional Illinibucks. I know that CLCV is a popular gen-ed. I have already taken that class, but nothing stops me from registering for that class again. I usually pick 15 credits at a time, so I would pick my 15 beforehand. This gives me the opportunity to register for one more 3 credit class. I would then register for CLCV. Then I would advertise on Facebook that I would like to sell this spot for X amount of Illinibucks. I know this is quite popular as many people post on FB for the hope that they can trade with people. Many students go to the length of buying peoples spot with real money as that is the only class they need to graduate. The method I just described would seem to be quite popular. I feel this is a bit unfair, as Illinibucks still would not solve the problem of unfair registration practices. I also feel Illinibucks will disrupt the current system as it gives you the ability to jump ahead in the line. However, lets say there is capacity for only 30 people. You are technically the 31st person but since you use Illinibucks you become the first in line. However what happenes to the new 31st person? How does the system recognize who becomes the 31st? I feel this may create more chaos than anything else. This may create a holdup cost as well to certain students as they never know when they can be booted from the class. I feel the concept of Illinibuck is almost similar to a currency of its own, and as a result needs to be allocated efficiently for it to truly be a success, or there seems no need for it. For example, I can use real cash to get my way if I really wanted. Hence, how is Illinibuck different from just using real cash?
In the future please chunk your posts into paragraphs with line spaces between each of them, rather than presenting one big blob of text, as you have done here.
ReplyDeleteOn the thought that you would register for a class you've already taken, I laughed out loud. You are the only student to suggest such a ploy. Such is the nature of a black market. You hoard what has value so you can resell it. I didn't understand quite how you would cash in on it.
Let me note that there are two different but related ideas. One is cutting in line for something that has yet to be allocated. The other is bumping somebody out of something that has already been allocated. When I wrote up the prompt for Illinibucks I had the cutting in line idea in my head. Reading what you wrote, it sounds more like bumping.
The problem you identify near the end of your post, about who is the 31st is really not that hard to solve. But there is an issue of how many can afford to spend their Illinibucks to be first in line. This relates to the prices for doing so. The mechanism works if only a handful choose to be at the front of the line. It doesn't work if too many opt to do that.
So by selling the spot in a very popular gen-ed, I would basically use the Illinibucks as a form of contingency. I presumed that cutting in line, meant that someone had to be bumped out as classes have restrictive seating.
DeleteYour scenario about people using Illinibucks to secure desirable classes than selling them to other students is quite interesting. I think that some students would actually sell their Illinibucks for real cash if there was a big enough demand for Illinibucks, like for priority registration. Would then the University have to police the black market of selling Illinibucks and their priority registration spots. I'm sure some students would be willing to pay for priority registration so they would inevitably pay for more Illinibucks. Would there be more incentive to spend all your Illinibucks on the most in demand situation like priority registration then sell them for real money.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Illinibucks would provide the opportunity for a side market. Your post makes it sound like there will be a scarcity of Illinibucks. Do you think that providing more Illinibucks could prevent or reduce the use of this side market. I talked about the side market in my post as well, but I do not know if more Illinibucks would be a good or bad idea. I am interested in what you think.
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