End red tape
Enroll by computer-'68
(In response to several inquiries and a letter to the editor, the UDK would like to enlighten its readers concerning some of the finer points of enrollment and registration red tape.)
An undergraduate student is required to complete eight similar sets of IBM cards during his four years of college.
EACH SEMESTER during enrollment, students must obtain registration packets prior to the actual enrollment process. These packets contain from eight to eleven IBM cards, of which students must fill out a minimum of eight.
The cards are designated as follows:
1. Student automobile registration
2. Registrar's record card.
3. Dean of Men/Dean of Women record card.
4. Public Relations Office and Alumni Association card.
5. Religious preference card (optional).
6. High school code specification.
7. Selective Service card (men).
8. Enrollment permit.
9. Student Blue Cross-Blue Shield application (optional).
10. Jayhawker Yearbook card (optional).
11. Class fees card (optional).
Registration has not always been as complicated. Until 1955, students had nine coupons to fill out, each connected to the other in a perforated chain.
"That was the 'railroad ticket stage,'" says James K. Hitt, registrar and dean of admissions. "Then only nine offices wanted to know who we had enrolled."
IN 1955, the registration system was changed to IBM punch cards. This was necessary to handle the records of the ever-increasing student body (7,367 in 1955, over 14,800 in 1966).
"The cards are capable of reproducing themselves automatically," said Hitt, "and we were able to reduce the number to five. There are so many cards now because more and more agencies
The reason students must fill out the same cards each semester, the registrar said, is this: while the punch card equipment will reproduce cards all day long, it cannot remember what was on the cards. You have to keep reminding it.
Ten students trek wilds for zoology fossils and animals
want students' names and interests."
"A COMPUTER, on the other hand." Hitt said, "remembers real well. As soon as we get the computer set up, we're going to redesign the whole system. We'll ask the student once, capture the information on the computer's memory, and never ask him again."
It has long been a tradition of the KU Museum of Natural History to provide field experience for its students.
This past summer 10 students participated in the two divisions of this program. One was concerned with studying live animals in their natural habitats, the other concerned with studying ancient
For almost as many summers as KU has been in existence, zoology professors have taken selected students on field trips over the United States. Students join with others from Texas to Canada to spend their summers in the wilds. These expeditions enrich the body of information surrounding the student's field, for they learn while discovering something new, not by reviewing something already a part of history.
animals such dinosaurs, many approxima tely 60 million years old.
Both groups brought specimens to KU. One group learned to trap, skin, and preserve animals. The other learned to discover, remove and package fossils. They both recorded all field data with each specimen for future study.
With the computer system, each student will receive one card at every enrollment. At the top will be all the information which the computer has on him, and the enrollee will be asked to correct inaccuracies or make changes since the previous semester (i.e., change of parents' address).
E. Raymond Hall, director of the Museum of Natural History, administers the program.
Richard F. Johnson, associate professor in zoology and associate curator of birds at the museum, and William A. Clemens, associate professor in zoology and associate curator of higher fossil vertebrates. led the courses.
The value of this program is recognized by the National Science Foundation, which this year awarded a grant of $3,250 to support the project for next summer.
At the bottom of the card will be blanks marked "Lawrence address," "telephone number," and "courses in which you are enrolled." This will be all the information required of students each semester.
FALL SEMESTER of 1968 will be the absolute earliest date for the implementation of such a sophisticated system. Hitt said.
Meanwhile, he added, we are learning from similar systems already in operation at the universities of Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts and Arizona State.
"Until then," said the registrar,
"the card system is pretty good,
and, incidentally, the only one we've got.
"I HEAR complaints that the card system is clumsy, stupid and even wasteful. Well, I've got no defense against claims of 'clumsy' and 'stupid.' They're legitimate grips.
"But wasteful of what? Students can always take the cards home, take off their shoes, and fill them out on their own time."
12 Daily Kansan
Thursday, September 29, 1966
JUNGLE SALE
THROUGH SATURDAY
- Byrds & Beatles
- Animals & Critters
- Stones, Leaves & Grass Roots
Monkeys & Turtles Love
THE
that when funds were made available ten years ago for library expansion, the decision was made to employ the present short-cut system rather than to hold down book purchases in order to keep up with cataloguing.
Hillcrest Shopping Center Open Till 8:30
Reg. 4.79—Now 3.29
INC.
Since the availability of some books is limited, because of funds, and because new fields and more intense study programs were beginning, the library decided to invest in books.
Reg. 3.79----Now 2.49
'Book' work floods Watson
Ten thousand books and more remain uncataloged at Watson Library—and it's all the fault of progress!
An increase in book purchasing by the university libraries ten years ago resulted in a million-volume library, and a constant backlog for the preparations department, which is lacking in equipment and professional personnel as well as funds.
Miss Eleanor Symons, head of the preparations department, reported that the backlog predicament can be cured not only by additional funds, but also—more importantly—by the advent of machine aid in cataloguing and by an increase in professional personnel.
Yet any book in the library, including those uncatalogued, is available to students.
TEMPORARY CARDS in the catalogue file make any of the unprocessed books available to a student who knows the author and title.
John L. Glicka, associate director of the library, explained
RUGGED ROMANTIC ...