Office of the Registrar Advisory Board Meeting - December 4, 2009

The Office of the Registrar Student Advisory Board met on Friday, December 4, 2009. This is a new committee for the 2009-2010 academic year. The purpose of the committee is to meet with representatives from the Registrar's office and discuss ways in which to improve the Registrar's services, as well as increase student awareness of existing services.
At this meeting, we discussed Student Center, the web-based program in which students can register for classes, update addresses, and view financial aid information. The Advisory Board provided input on changes that could make Student Center more accessible and easier to understand for students. For example, we discussed making "help" options more visible on various pages of Student Center; noted that sometimes there is confusion about whether or not a class has been actually added to a schedule or if it still remains on the Wish List; and also noted that it is frustrating when the search defaults to the fall term instead of spring. We also discussed how the process of running and reading a DARS is somewhat confusing, and how students do not receive education about DARS reports and their purpose in any formal manner. Board members suggested that it may be helpful to have students go through online tutorials/demos of enrollment and DARS before they come to SOAR, so that they are more prepared for first semester enrollment.
Other Shared Governance members are encouraged to comment below or contact an Advisory Board member if they have input on services from the Registrar's office, including posting of deadlines, Student Center, enrollment information, DARS, and Course Guide.
-Kendra Gurnee