When students register for classes April 7, students will use MyNIU and not WebConnect.

The new student information system incorporates aspects of Course Finder and WebConnect into one program. Students will be able to add and drop classes, in addition to being able to view them on a weekly schedule.

Students are also able to see the earliest time they will be eligible for registration.

Honors program coordinator Roseann Feldmann said she is positive about MyNIU.

“I think it is ultimately going to be outstanding, but change is always hard,” Feldmann said.

MyNIU, which made its debut on the NIU web site on Feb. 27, is the new student information system being implemented by the university. However, the system in its current state is incomplete.

Brent Gage, assistant vice provost of enrollment services and one of the central figures of MyNIU, described the situation students are in with MyNIU.

“We’re living in two worlds right now, in that every new student enrolling in the fall, only exists in MyNIU,” Gage said. “All current and continuing students have a record in MyNIU, but the only purpose for that record are things that affect the fall term.”

As of this writing, current students have a limited view of their profile on MyNIU. For example, students can see their current class schedule and their grades from last semester, but not items such as their degree audit report.

Gage said that students will be able to view all of their information on MyNIU on Aug. 25. At that point, it is expected that WebConnect will no longer be used for anything.

But classes have also fallen into that category. Alex Ainger, senior special education major, said he was unable to view half of his special education classes on MyNIU. Feldmann also mentioned that not all Honors classes have been added.

Adam Stone, director of registration and records, said that the department is working with the Honors department with their situation.

“We’re still working out how to get them in,” Stone said. With WebConnect, Honors students would go to the Honors office and sign up for a class. They would then be given a four-digit number to enter into WebConnect. Feldmann said this has changed.

“To how I understand it, there will be permits,” Feldmann said. “But if a class has 20 students, then every student will be given a different number.”

Yesterday, Honors students received an email from the department, stating that sign-up for permits will begin on Friday for seniors. They are also able to review the catalog online, but the list is incomplete.

A lack of understanding of MyNIU also seems to be prevalent. Feldmann said she has not been challenged by MyNIU or any of its features. However, as an adviser, she said she gets students who have not been informed.

“In my interactions advising students, often a student will look at you and say, ‘What’s MyNIU?'”

Ainger repeated similar sentiments.

“Why have I not received any e-mails that I have been told I would get?” Ainger asked. “I have been told there were [going to be] e-mails of explanations about MyNIU.”

Gage said he understands the concern of some students over the new system. He said, however, that the system is very intuitive and should not be too hard for students to figure out because of their knowledge of technology.