Rocky switch to OneStart expected

Fall registration is just beginning, and though some students sigh at the thought of another academic semester, this time, there is something different to grumble about.\nBoth students and faculty are concerned about the change from INSITE and RegWeb to the new Student Information System because they feel the transition will be rocky. But Vice Chancellor of Admissions Don Hossler said the administration stands behind its decision to implement the new PeopleSoft program despite the problems found in the program's "functionalities." \n"I'm not going to say there aren't problems," Hossler said. "We're pretty confident there will be no catastrophic disasters."\nJunior Kiera Davenport said it took her 15 minutes just to find her fall registration appointment.\n"The new system is too confusing," she said. "There are too many tabs, and it needs to be more organized."\nRoland Cote, associate vice chancellor for enrollment services and registrar, said the University is prepared for a worst-case scenario if the new program malfunctions.\n"There is always paper, but there is no way we'll go there," Cote said. "We are prepared to send out forms to all the students if we need to, but it's unthinkable."\nHossler said IU has hired extra staff and current students to help work out possible glitches that may arise from the new registration process. Hossler said extra staff can make anywhere from $100 to $200 per hour. He said all of the costs, including the initial cost of $5 million for the PeopleSoft package, could add up to more than $52 million.\nHossler said he is comfortable with the costs of fixing the program's problems and other universities have spent more money than IU trying out other similar programs in the past.\n"Illinois spent more on the competitor of PeopleSoft," Hossler said. "Minnesota spent more than us. The moral of the story is that (the programs) aren't cheap."\nIn the past, IU has been awarded for elements in its automated course exchange system, including automated wait listing capabilities, rain checks and automated course exchange. But the new PeopleSoft program doesn't include rain checks or automated course exchange, and wait listing is a more complicated process. Despite this, IU felt an urgency to implement the program because the longer the University waits, the more costly it becomes, Hossler said. \n"You can't hang on to the people for that period of time to get it how you want," he said. "Can you imagine buying a house and waiting two or three years to move in?"\nHossler said capabilities like rain checking are a top priority to be incorporated into the new software in the future.\n"We're all bothered by the fact that we're losing some automated functionalities," Hossler said. "We have priorities to have this same kind of functionality once things are implemented." \nEven though students have begun to register for fall classes, some faculty members are still being trained on how to use the software. Some feel rushed and wonder why the administration couldn't wait for training to be completed before allowing students to use the new registration system.\n"The question is 'what's the rush?'" English adviser Mary K. Rothert said. "I barely know what I'm doing."\nRothert said learning the new registration process is difficult, and she anticipates students will struggle with it as well.\n"It's hard to learn," she said. "None of this makes sense."\nHossler said he understands why people question the urgency for implementation of the project, but he said putting the program to use will help pinpoint the problems.\n"The language of this project is to exercise the software," Hossler said. "Without people registering, we cannot work out the quirks."\nHossler said the process had to begin at some point and since "the cost clock keeps ticking," it would be a cheaper project to begin sooner than later.\n"Costs would mount substantially if we kept delaying," Hossler said.\nTo cope with students' concerns, the administration sent a booklet to students featuring the step-by-step instructions on how to register. Hossler said he fears students will not read it and struggle even more as a result. \n"We don't expect people to read, because they don't read," Hossler said. "We will make every effort humanly possible to highlight the changes."\nSome students already miss the old system.\n"I think INSITE was a much easier system to use, but I guess you have to adapt to the change," junior Eric Sanders said.\nComputers will be open to register in Franklin Hall for students who need assistance in person. In addition, the students hired by IU will be working a phone call center, so students can get help with registration questions at 855-8200.\n"I hope students will pick up the phone and call," said Cote. \nHossler said he feels, after a semester or two, students will be used to the new process.\n"In the grand scheme of things, people will not remember in two years," said Hossler.\nCote said this "larger than life" project is "bigger than any single individual."\n"This was a process that everyone participated in," Cote said. \nHossler said IU faculty and staff have been working hard to make the system workable for the students.\n"Lots of people have worked very hard," Hossler said. "We need a big party after this."\n-- Contact staff writer Laura Hilker at lhilker@indiana.edu.