By 2003, a system that will allow students to register online, check grades, see an unofficial transcript, look at financial aid awards and view catalog contents, will be implemented by the University. Another advantage of this system is that incoming freshmen will be able to register online as well. There are also other helpful programs such as the Web for Faculty, which will allow faculty members to conduct a degree analysis.

“After the Y2K stuff, we looked at web registration products so students can self-serve,” Charles Ordoyne, director of University Computer Services, said.

The cost of this system is $80,000.

In the summer of 2000 through student technology fees and University funds, the University purchased the web for student registration program to go along with the our current registration system.

After purchasing the system, Ordoyne and his staff installed products in hopes of getting the system running in November for early registration in the spring.

During the testing phase, Ordoyne’s staff, staff from records and registration and financial aid were brought in to use the system to register students. When approximately a dozen people went into the system at one time, the ten year old mainframe crashed.

“That is when I realized that the current mainframe must be replaced,” Ordoyne said. That process was started early last year.

At the end of the fiscal year (Summer 2001), the University was able to acquire funds to purchase the new system.

Because technology is changing, the new system is different from the current one, which presents a challenge for the staff.

“Because the technology is so different, my staff has to be reeducated on how the new system works,” Ordoyne said.

A contract, which has been negotiated since last summer with the company SET, is still being negotiated.

“That’s the sad part. It’s taking longer to negotiate the contract than it will to set up the mainframe. But because the state requires us to bid and negotiate a contract, things have to be done this way,” Ordoyne said.

After this negotiation is complete and staff members are taught how to use teh equipment, the process will almost be complete. Through the summer and early fall of this year, the system will be properly installed. The staff will have a full understanding of the system, which means it will be in use by Fall 2002.

“That way, by early spring 2003, the web application, as well as phone and adviser registration, will be up and running,” Ordoyne said.