WeevilNet to Help with Preregistration in the Future

Staff Writer

   For students planning on attending classes for spring 2011, preregistration started Monday Nov. 8 and will end Friday Nov. 19.

   The University of Arkansas at Monticello recently went through a change of computer software, which the University feels will help the students with their registering and planning their future.

    “WeevilNet is a relational database system that we have needed for quite some time. Switching to an up-to-date system is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. UAM was fortunate to have the support of its constituents and its staff in order to make this happen because it does involve many dollars and much staff time. We are also fortunate to have Ms. Anissa Ross, who has served as leader of this project from the beginning,” said Debbie Bryant, associate vice-chancellor for student affairs.

   The new system helped the University do away with data redundancy and multiple flat files. In student records in the previous system, the registrar’s office maintained a student file, a student history file, a student graduation file, a student degree audit file, etc. This the new system, the data about students availability comes in accessible multiple tables, not multiple files and data can be extracted from any/all of them without having to access separate files that are not related.

   When data updates, it adds to the system rather than replacing what was currently in the blank. This allows for research and tracking of transactions.

   Although, new software means transferring old files into the new files, which requires patience and time. However the University feels we are learning new things every day about our new software.

   The University continues to encourage the students to keep a frequent check on their WeevilNet accounts.

   “Students should access their WeevilNet accounts often, at least a few times each week, in case 'to do' items have been posted for them or holds have been put on them. It is each student’s responsibility to do this. Students should also access their UAM e-mail daily because this is now our primary method of communication,” Bryant informs us.

   Since WeevilNet comes at the students as something new, the students just need to take some time to figure it out. WeevilNet drives on menu based, so figuring it out will only take some reading. Clicking WeevilNet will get a student started.

   Students also need to keep a check on their WeevilNet because of new advantages that will be available soon.

   “What we currently term as “degree audits” in the old system will be “advisement reports” in the new system. When these are placed into operation, both students and advisors can generate the advisement reports. Getting these ready for use has involved a lot of work and testing, thus delaying their accessibility. Stay tuned,” Bryant said.

   Bryant said WeevilNet definitely strives over recent software. WeevilNet acquires two really important features, ability to access multiple tables to access data and the ability to track historical records. In addition, when the Human Resources segment goes live, employees will enjoy on-line access to some of their personnel data, and this will certainly be a first for UAM.

   Students are advised to take advantage of the two weeks that they are offered to talk to their advisors about their schedule. Students meeting certain eligibility criteria can even enter their class selections online during this two-week period. Other students will have their selections entered by the advisor.

Have a comment? Please e-mail us.

©The Voice 2010