Online registration system unveiled

Six years ago, the Hopkins community began asking for an online registration system. Since then, rumors have circulated every semester about a trial period being just around the corner. Now as we approach 2002, we are finally being given an "interim system" to satisfy our current needs while the University works on more long-term software based upon a program called Exeter.

While we commend the Office of the Registrar and Hopkins Information Technological Services (HITS) for their recent efforts to provide the student population with online registration capabilities, we wonder if this system will be able to handle the user load.

Though it's true that a group of students did test the system, the senior class is made up of approximately 1,000 people, which doesn't include students who have senior standing. Students with senior standing - even if they aren't graduating this May - are allowed to test the online registration system if they get approval from both the Office of the Registrar and the Office of Academic Advising. There are juniors on campus with senior standing who have already secured their right to register online for the upcoming spring semester.

Though it has been proven that the interim system can handle less than twenty students registering, will it be able to handle the 1,000 plus students who register this month? Consider that in addition to students who are registering via the Hopkins server, there will also be the usual user load of people browsing the web, checking e-mail and using Internet-based applications located on the Hopkins server. It almost seems like we're asking for a disaster.

The point of having an online registration system is to alleviate registrar traffic and allow students to register from the convenience of their homes or locations not near the Homewood campus, like for study abroad students. However, there are still some roadblocks that force students to register in person. Students still need to meet with their advisors for schedule approval. Also, if students want to enroll for classes requiring signatures, they cannot use the online registration system. It seems to us that it wouldn't be too hard to work out a system whereby professors can assign unique numbers to students, who can then type that number in during their registration period.

We look forward to trying the new online registration system, but at the same time hope the University will further refine the system without making us wait another six years.