December 4, 2000

Faculty are now able to check the names of students registered for their classes through the University mainframe. Although paper class lists are still available, over the next couple years they will be phased out.

"Electronic class lists save paper and are more up-to-date," says Jeffrey von Munkwitz-Smith, University registrar. "The electronic lists also give faculty the ability to access class lists when they need them."

The new electronic class lists are updated as the information comes in. "The number one complaint about paper class lists, " says von Munkwitz-Smith "is that they are out of date before they are received." Currently it takes more than a week - a period in which students are continuing to add and drop classes - to print the lists and distribute them to faculty.

Because many teachers use programs like Microsoft Excel to maintain a record of student grades, the electronic lists can also help faculty save time. "It's good to have electronic class lists, because without them the names of students and their social security numbers would have to be entered into the computer manually," says David Miller, a professor of psychology.

In about a year from now, faculty will be able to access their class lists through the newly installed PeopleSoft Student Administrati on System. This system will allow faculty to directly and securely access their class lists by way of the web. The class lists available through this system will be continually updated, as students add and drop classes.

The move to electronic class lists is also in keeping with the University's goal of reducing its consumption of paper - an effort that not only saves money but helps preserve the environment. The registrar's office is one of the largest consumers and generators of paper on campus.

Other steps the registrar's office has taken to decrease paper usage include reducing the size and quantity of various publications of the office; reducing the number of copies and runs of various reports; and switching from paper to e-mail for many of the office's communications.

The phase out of paper class lists began this fall when, instead of the usual three times, the lists were distributed just twice: prior to the first day of classes and after the end of the period during which students were able to add and drop courses. In the spring and fall of 2001, paper class lists will only be sent out prior to the first day of classes. Class lists will no longer be available in paper form by spring 2002.

Currently class lists can be downloaded and printed from the University's mainframe through the ADMSYS system. Instructions on how to download class lists from this system can be found on the web. Electronic lists can now be downloaded from the mainframe into Excel as well. Class lists downloaded from this system are updated as students add and drop classes.

Many faculty are also using WebCT to obtain their class lists from the web. These class lists are posted by the Computer Center but are now updated only once, at the beginning of each semester.

Rebecca Stygar