The Good and Bad about Online Student Information Systems

When I attended freshman orientation at Bloomsburg University almost three years ago, one of the key parts was a presentation about our online student information system, known as STINF.

This system brings many college transactions on to the Internet. We use it to schedule courses, register for each semester, receive grades, and even change meal plans and view bills.

I have found it to be a useful and modern day tool, yet it has been frustrating at times. I am going to illustrate some of the good and bad about it, then give any of you college students who may be using an online system tips to keep in mind when you use it.

Scheduling classes:

Instead of waiting in long lines at the registrar's office, all you have to do check for your date and time to select classes, which can either be found on STINF or on the registrar website. On the day of your scheduling, you go online and start picking your classes.

The good: You can schedule by going through a list of classes for each department, then clicking a button and typing in the class number you want. When you hit the update button, the class appears on your schedule in an instant. There is also a drop function available. The system tells you how many seats are still open in each class, the days and times the class meets, the location, and professor.

The problem: Often times, many classes are filled before you can start scheduling. Sometimes, all it takes is one person clicking faster to get the last seat in a class. Then you have to wait to see if someone will drop the session you need to get into.

Receiving grades:

The registrar's office posts a date for when grades will be available on STINF. All you have to do is sign on and click on grades, and then your end of semester grades will be there. You can also find out your semester and cumulative GPAs and how many credits you have earned.

The good: No pestering the mailman for your grade report when you are at home. Sometimes you can even see grades before the announced date depending on when professors submit final grades.

The problem: No major problems, except the impatience and anxiety you may experience waiting to see your grades.

Registration

The registration system, known as "E-REG" at our school, allows you to register before classes begin. This is a way for the school to confirm your enrollment and living arrangements for the semester.

The good: You can register about a week before classes are scheduled to begin.

The problem: If you don't register on time, your class schedule will be dropped. If this happens to you, you will have to see the registrar to get your schedule straightened out.

Other available functions:

-On campus residence listings, which list your dorm, room number, and roommate's name.

-Viewing and paying your bill online.

-Finding out who your advisor is.

Does your school have an online information system for students? If so, here are some things to keep in mind.

Make sure you know your login information before you use the system. This is usually a student ID and a password you create. If you forget this information but attempt to log on, your account could be locked after a certain number of attempts. Then you have to visit the registrar or another office in person to get your problem straightened out.

If you can schedule online, log in with a preliminary list of courses you want to take. Be prepared to select acceptable back ups if your first choices aren't immediately available. You can usually make changes before a certain date if someone drops a class or listings are updated.

If you have to take care of something before a certain date, get it done as early as possible.

With computers becoming so commonplace today, it eliminates using paper and pencil for many tasks. Navigating your college's registration system and grade reports may be one of those ways, so make sure you are prepared if you go to a school that relies heavily on technology.