II staff portraits II Lora Fleener, director of student technology ser– vices, Ann Dixon, director of the Library, and Keith Cronk, vice president for Information Technology Services, laugh during an ITS staff meeting March 5. ITS helped lead the University to an online registration system this year, eliminating the traditional arena registration in the Ganus Athletic Center. (Photo by Jim Miller) Information technology leads university through changes 140 II leadership For the first time in, more than 15 years, students did not have to attend the tra– ditional arena registration in the Ganus Athletic Center when they arrived on campus for the spring semester, which officially began Jan. 14. Thanks to Banner, the new information management software implemented University– wide this year, students were able to register online using Campus Pipeline. Keith Cronk, vice president for Information Tedmology, said the new system made it easier for students to register, but it placed the responsibility of registering on the students' shoulders. "This registration process is a new way of thinking," Cronk said. "This new system is much simpler for the students because they can do it all online, hopefully without having to stand in a line. But the students need to understand it is now more their responsibility." Beginning in December, Cronk said students were able to view their accounts under the School Services tab in Campus Pipeline. By viewing their accounts, students could see what business they needed to complete in order to be fully registered for the spring semester - business that was previously explained to them and taken care of on registration day in the GAC. Because there was no arena registration this year, students went to individual offices to take care of unfinished business. Some of the items students saw on their checklist of requirements included paying the required $2,300 down payment to the business office, signing student services paper work or reserving a chapel seat. Molly Noble, director of the business office, said it was in the best interest of all students to complete these requirements before they left for Christmas break; that way they could avoid standing in lines inJanuary. In addition, students were able to register financially during the break online, over the phone or by mail. If students did not complete these requirements by Jan. 20, the University threatened to drop their classes and charge them a $100 fee to have a schedule re-entered. In addition to the new technological changes, the Office of Student Life is organized a Welcome Center Jan. 13, the traditional arena registration day, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in the student center. According to Dustin Vyers, student activities coordinator, the event included music, free hot chocolate and cookies, door prizes and an information desk where students who had not completed the registration process could ask questions. "The Welcome Center was a place where students could hang out and reunite with friends they hadn't seen in a few weeks," Vyers said. "The event was not required for registration; the students registered on their own. It was just a place where we could welcome the students back to campus and provide an information desk in case anyone had questions about how to complete their registration." - Staff reports
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