As students register for spring classes, they may find sections they want already full, and they might end up in classes or time slots that are not their first choice.

But student athletes are spared this irritation, because they may register for classes even before seventh-semester seniors.

Division I athletes are extended priority registration along with Schreyer Honors College scholars and students with physical impairments that limit their ability to move around campus, said J. James Wager, assistant vice provost for enrollment management and Office of the Registrar. Scheduling opens for these three groups at the same time, five calendar days before the first registration date for other students, Wager said.

"The students who are on athletic teams often have special scheduling needs," Wager said. The university wants to ensure that athletes are able to schedule their classes so they aren't conflicting with their travel and practice schedules.

"It's really helpful," said men's volleyball middle blocker John Mills (junior-geography). "You have so many more things in your day you have to get done."

Priority scheduling helps Mills focus on both athletics and academics.

"It has to be done or else we would never graduate," he said.

Mills sometimes hears criticism about student athlete benefits. But he said student athletes bring in revenue for the university, so they earn the benefits they receive.

Along with priority scheduling, athletes are given special attention for housing.

Like all other freshmen, student athletes must live on campus their freshman year, said Lynn DuBois housing assignment manager for Housing and Food Services.

Student athletes fill out their housing forms like other students, and the Assignment Office receives a list of athletes from the athletic department.

"They are also sometimes assigned close to their practice facility," DuBois said.

For example, she said, a wrestler may be assigned to live in West Halls so he can be near Rec Hall, where wrestling practice takes place.

Likewise, a gymnast may be placed in South Halls, close to the White Building. Most first-year football players are housed in Pollock.

In addition to being housed near practice facilities, athletes are often assigned as roommates, DuBois said.

Athletes' unique schedules are the main reason for this, she said. If someone's going to be waking up at 5:30 every morning for practice, it's a good idea if the roommate has the same schedule.

The special attention given to athlete housing is similar to interest houses, sororities or Schreyer scholars, DuBois said. Each of these groups has reassignment rights to their rooms: if an athlete likes his or her dorm room, he or she may keep it for the next year.

Special housing options and priority scheduling are extended only to NCAA Division I athletes; these benefits are not available to other student athletes.

Lady Icers forward Lynn Caputo (freshman-kineseology) said because women's ice hockey is a club sport at Penn State, she does not get priority housing or scheduling. If it becomes a Division I sport in the future, Caputo wouldn't mind the benefits, but for now, she said she doesn't mind scheduling with other freshmen or her ten-minute walk to practice from East Halls.

"It doesn't really bother me," she said. "I'm just having fun playing hockey."