WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2006
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 5
TECHNOLOGY
Enroll & Pay upgrades in progress
TOM SLAUGHTER
tslaughter@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The Enroll & Pay system is being upgraded, which will make it easier to use for students, faculty and parents.
The upgrades are focused on allowing easier navigation through the Web site for users.
Martin Maina, Kenya graduate student in International Studies, said that the system didn't have many problems for the most part, but that "sometimes it's difficult to log in to."
Bob Turvey, associate administrator for Student Success, said that while the current system was considered "cutting edge" in the spring of 2003, they "knew that the system was not what it needed to be in 2006."
Sheri Phillips, information systems analyst for the Office of Student Success, said that the current version made it difficult for users to access all of their information because they had to follow different links to view each piece of data.
"The self serve aspect was not the most user-friendly," Phillips said.
With the new version, users will be able to see
tion about enrollment, graduation and class schedules, as well as addresses and telephone numbers that each student gave to the University. Turvey said
"The self-serve aspect was not the most userfriendly."
all of their academic and personal data on one page, as opposed to having to follow links to view each piece of information.
SHERI PHILLIPS Information systems analyst for the Office of Student Success
The page will include informa
enrollment periods they are informed that they cannot enroll in classes.
that students' holds will be displayed more clearly in the updated version because students often don't follow links to find out about their holds, and during
"That's been very frustrating for people," Turvey said.
Another feature in the updated version will allow students to select which classes they want to enroll in before their actual enrollment appointment. At the time of the appointment users will simply press a button and, assuming the classes aren't full, enrollment will be complete.
Turvey said that about one or two dozen schools have already made the upgrade, but that the University was still ahead of a significant proportion of academic institutions across the world in terms of updating the current version. He said that feedback from other institutions that used the new system had been positive.
While the system will become easier to use, the improvements haven't come without a price.
Turvey said that the University
originally bought a yearly contract for the software with PeopleSoft, which has since merged with Oracle, for approximately $145,000. However, when making the decision for an upgrade, the University had to pay an upgrade lab $70,000 for initial work and a group of consultants $20,000 for additional work last summer.
Turvey said that while he does receive complaints many of which are from parents students have not been negatively outspoken about the system.
"I think it's fine the way it is," Brent Pitts, Olathe sophomore, said.
That doesn't mean however, that an upgrade wouldn't be beneficial.
If it's going to be more user-friendly, all the better", Maina said.
—Edited by Dani Hurst
CLUBS
CLUB'S GEAR STOLEN
Photo Illustration by Joshua Bickel
Theft leaves jugglers without vital performance gadgets
BY ADRIENNE BOMMARITO
abommarito@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The morning of June 4th became a day of surprises for the University of Kansas' Juggling Club and the individuals who stole their belongings.
Justin Gramarye and Bradley Barger, two members of the club, were in Omaha, Neb., when someone broke into Gramarye's Toyota Camry and stole $4,000 in belongings.
The stolen items included a unicycle, a laptop and four bags containing balls, beanbags, torches, devil sticks and cigar boxes.
The men were the only members of the club who attended the Flatland Juggling Festival in Nebraska.
Gramarye, treasurer of the club, said he thought the laptop, which was in plain view of passersby, may have been motivation for the thieves.
"I think they thought the bags were something they could sell, then they opened them up later and went, 'Ah," Gramarye said.
Tio Duermeier, club president, said the theft occurred between
9 a.m. and 10 a.m. when the club members were in a park throwing boomerangs.
Duermeier, who was not present in Omaha, said the club was at a loss without the items. The club has 11 members who perform at various locations around the campus and Lawrence.
The club had previously bought equipment with funds from Student Senate at the end of the spring semester. The thieves stole the equipment that was purchased with the funds given to the club by Student Senate.
"We had all that we just got." Duermeier said.
"Then we lost it all."
Gramarye said the club planned to ask Student Senate for more funds, but would have to wait because it happened while Student Senate was out of session. He said he had no idea what to
The following items were stolen from a member of KU's Juggling Club: a unicycle, balls, beanbags torches and devil sticks.
expect because the items were stolen.
If the club received additional funding from Student Senate, Gramarye said it would definitely replace the stolen items.
However, Gramarye said if Student Senate didn't give them additional funds the club would come up with the money on its own through fundraisers and additional performances.
"It will happen eventually," Gramarye said.
The students reported the theft to the Omaha police department, but Gramarye and Barger said they weren't expecting anything.
Duermeier said the club received a donation of $10 from a woman who said she heard about the robberv
"People have contacted us saying they want to help out," Gramarye said. "It's great."
—Edited by Dani Hurst