Quote:
Originally Posted by doppelganger
Does anyone know WHY they do this?
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They standardize release dates for all courses until
after exams have finished. Think about what would happen if they didn't do this (I was a student during one of the first years that McMaster went 'online'):
Even after one day, after one exam was written, students would begin frantically logging in every three seconds to see if their grades were posted. As more exams were written (and hence more students trying to check grades) computer servers began to lag, and students who hadn't written their exams could not access their course webpages or WebCT (the 'olden days' version of avenue). These students were at a significant disadvantage and in some cases, could not prepare for their finals.
This is why grades are withheld, and also why MUGSI is capped at a certain number of users. (Though it does not explain why they don't simply improve the servers). They have also added a separate "Grade Report" section since then...imagine trying to check your grades through MUGSI! You wouldn't find out how you did until some time in January (much like how you can't get into SOLAR to pick courses).
