Staff Editorial

The inefficiency of the Registrar Office at organizing student transcripts has made registration a difficult and frustrating process for students.

Because of flaws within the software system, completed courses fail to appear under the correct program requirements section, and are instead funneled into a bottom category entitled "Courses Not Used." Many upperclassmen have noticed and reported this problem since the start of their freshman years. Yet the flawed software still remains a source of frustration as the students prepare for graduation.

The fact that the problem has persisted for at least four years is entirely unacceptable, and has made it difficult for students to plan their future schedules and courses of study. The disorganization surrounding course requirements does nothing to encourage students to make serious efforts in planning their future education. And the resultant lack of security regarding course credit should not be tolerated at an institution dedicated to academic excellence.

In addition to the flawed technology, the poor communication between the Registrar's Office and the university's other advisory resources has also contributed to difficulties surrounding registration. While the university presents students with multiple resources (CAS Advising Support Center, HSB Advising Center, Student Service Center, faculty advisers, department chairs, the registrar's office, etc.) the lack of communication and inconsistency of feedback from these entities has confused many students as to who holds the authority to approve major/minor requirements.

With the current changes in academic planning, and the mounting paperwork surrounding the implementation of the GEP, confusion has reached an all-time high and advisers are often unsure as to how to counsel their students. While the Registrar's Office has recently acquired new hires to assist the understaffed office, registration information sessions continues to be carried out on a department-by-department basis, without the direct involvement of the Registrar.

Until the rest of the university's resources can be educated to provide registration advice that is consistent with the official university policy, students need to be made aware of one entity that we can trust as a secure authority on all questions regarding registration.