By Kelsi Williamson, Student Reporter
With registration for the 2009 spring semester underway, the process already has provided its share of stress and frustrations for some students.
“I was frustrated because I didn’t even know what it was,” said Jordan Overman, freshman undeclared major from Atlanta. “I just now figured out what I’m supposed to do.”
Until last week, Overman said she was unaware she would have to take care of registering independently. She said she wished more information was provided to new freshmen about how the process worked, not just when it took place.
“A lot of people in my U-100 were confused,” Overman said.
Amanda Duke, sophomore social work major from Arlington, also encountered trouble preparing for the spring semester, but for different reasons. Duke switched her major more than a week ago, causing miscommunication over her advising code between her new and old departments. With this problem now fixed, Duke should register smoothly with the rest of the sophomores.
“It’s exciting because you get excited about next semester and the classes you get to take, but at the same time, it’s really time consuming,” Duke said.
Luke Cochran, junior finance major from Round Rock, experienced his first registration difficulties Nov.10 when he could not view a January short-course class that already had reached its maximum students.
“I wish that the registration process was more clear with classes that are no longer available,” Cochran said.
Cochran tried for 40 minutes to obtain the professor’s name who taught the class in order to send an email inquiring about forced entry. He said he finally contacted the teacher through a number of phone calls but has yet to get into the class.
Bart Herridge, registrar and director of academic records, said the filled classes go offline in order to simplify the online registration process.
“Sending back courses that are already full would only exponentially increase the amount of network traffic we get,” Herridge said.
He said students can try a few simple ways to make registration less frustrating. “Be prepared,” Herridge said. “Know what classes you are going to take ahead of time.”
He also suggests visiting the ACU Registrar quick tips page on the registrar’s Web page.
“This semester’s registration period has been, in my five years of overseeing this process, one of the least problematic on record (with the caveat that freshmen have yet to register),” Herridge said in an e-mail. “Anecdotally, we have had fewer support calls and less perceived frustration about technical glitches amongst students than in several previous years.”
