Henderson State University - Star Yearbook (Arkadelphia, AR)

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..........-....44. ' '- ti 4 i The First Week is the Hardest cont. - Registration Registration, one of the most dreaded burdens of the usual first week confusion, was made a little easier with the help of the computer system, seven computer terminals, and an assortment of students and staff personnel. The registration process began with a gray sheet, on which students filled out a trial schedule and listed information needed for the student directory. The process of registration began when the gray sheet was completed and signed by the student's advisor. The first floor of Womack Hall was the first stop. Here students secured vehicle stickers, housing, meal plans and post of- fice boxes. The next stop was Station No. l where all student information was en- tered into the computer. Health stamps and deans' approvals were obtained at Station No. 2, located on the second fioor of Womack. The next stop was to have the trial schedule punched into the computer. If problems arose, this was the time for them. The process was often a trying one as classes were closed, and all the work of trying to find that perfect schedule was in vain. Perfect schedules were defined as not beginning before 9 a.m. so students can sleep late, and ending by l or 2 p.m. in order to escape to the lake or watch one's favorite soap operas. Hope was not all lost though, as stu- dents were told to find the instructor Having an ID card made during the first few steps of the registration process is a must for all stu- dents. whose class was closed and obtain his signature. When that was done one was assured a place in the class. Finding the instructor, though, proved to be a totally new game in itself. The game began when the student went to the instructor's office. A typical scene went something like this: Student knocks on the door, but there is no answer. An- other instructor says to check the Union Pub, but after going there the student finds he is nowhere in sight. By now stu- dent is desperate and decides to return to the instn1ctor's office and wait for him. He is the key to that perfect schedule and the student is determined to get that magic signature no matter what it takes. Finally, the instructor comes up and agrees to let the student in the class. Feel- ing confident again the student retums to station no. 2 and has the now approved class entered into the computer. The reg- istrar's stamp is placed on the gray sheet and the registration process is complete. Although the process of registering for classes seemed easy enough, the unex- pected continued to take its toll on even the most patient of students and staff. Lines. usually long ones, formed at every registration process station. The computers were not infallible, as they broke down several times, especially during fall pre-registration. Computers also tended to make mistakes. Karen Bass, a sophomore music therapy major from Warren, said, The only thing is that it made a mistake and I put me in the wrong class. Other than: that, it is fair Freshman orientation was also a cause of unexpected problems in registration As usual freshmen were advised to take the basic courses such as fundamental! math and p.e. to get them out of the way early. Upper classmen who still needed I these courses faced the problem of closed l classes after freshman orientation and early registration was complete Even with long lines, closed classes and computer breakdowns, veteran stu dents agreed that the new system is better than the old one of using class cards what table to go to first, then you had the packet to fill. To me, the computer is better, said Lisa Foley, a junior fromt San Antonio Texas Stacy Burford, a junior business man agement major from Mena, said, The old system was a mass confusion. It didn't matter what time you went people pulled cards In its second year the new computer system of registration has proven to be at success. Although there are still some problems, most students, faculty, and! administration agree that the computers are an asset when it's time for the dreaded 4 bi-annual ritual of registration . With the old system you never 11- I

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With the new computer system all aspects of regis- tration must now be checked, including health record forms. Lines seemed to form as students got their sched- ule entered into the com- puter. -2-,4.,..x 'xl -D

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V5 . c......-1 Student priced books are very popular at the first of each semester. Mrs. lane Arnold prepares books to be sold at the SGA book exchange. Lines seemed to form at whatever stage of the reg- istration process. Dr. loe T. Clark okays Tricia Clift's trial sched- ule. 13