Online registration sparks change

No longer will students have to carry around a green registration admission ticket to be admitted to register for classes. \nRegistering is now as simple as a four-digit code. \nAssociate Registrar Roland Cote said the registration process has been revamped to provide students with alternative, more convenient options of registering.\n"It's not really a major registration overhaul," Cote said. "It's a successful attempt in making registration accessible from any PC."\nCote said the a registration access code is necessary when registering online at http://regweb.indiana.edu. Students receive a four-digit code through e-mail or when meeting with faculty advisers.\n"(The different) schools determine who can and can't register," Cote said. "We put in a mechanism that includes the registration access code informing students that they are cleared to register."\nIndividual schools, follow pre-determined procedures as to how the registration process will be completed, Cote said. \nJean Person, recorder for the School of Journalism, said it is the rule of the journalism school to meet with an assigned faculty advisor twice a year where the adviser and student cooperatively work together in planning future courses.\n"We like to control authorizations, keep students on track and allow time for them to ask questions," Person said. "We want students to achieve their goals and complete school in the time frame given."\nBut some schools with greater amounts of undergraduates choose to override advisory appointments and simply issue registration codes via e-mail.\n"Each school has individual procedures," Cote said. "It's all based on how tightly the school wants to control advising."\nCote said Franklin Hall will remain open during the registration process, adequately staffed with student employees and available resources. \n"Students may be timid to register alone," Cote said. "The (registration) process could be frustrating, but students should feel free to come to Franklin Hall."\nJunior Melissa Lear said she plans to register online instead of going to Franklin Hall.\n"I think the ability of registering online is a great idea," Lear said. "Sitting at my computer at home or even on campus provides for a more convenient and comfortable atmosphere."\nCote said he encourages students to register online.\n"The registration system hasn't changed necessarily," Cote said. "The screen is the same, the functionality is the same, just now the process can be done anywhere that connects to the Web"