NEWS A3
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2017 WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Scheduling software aims to simplify registration
BY EMILY DELETTER
HERALD.NEWS@WKU.EDU
Priority registration for class scheduling for the Spring 2018 semester began on Monday. This is the second semester that WKU has used a new software called Schedule Planner to aid students in the course registration process. Associate Director of the Academic Advising and Retention Center Jennifer Markin said in an email that registration for Fall 2017 courses was a test pilot for the Schedule Planner on the student side only. Registration for Spring 2018 courses will be the first time that all aspects of Schedule Planner are live. According to the WKU Academic Advising and Retention Center, over 11,000 unique users have utilized Schedule Planner since it was implemented last April. They also estimated that more than 900 new users used the software this month. The software gives students the opportunity to optimize course selec-
SGA CONTINUED FROM PAGE A2 would be included, including siblings and parents of the student. “This is necessary because keeping students’ families together assures their academic success,” according to Resolution 2-17-F. Serrano said a “significant number” of students are affected by DACA on campus. Director of academic and student affairs Emily Houston said WKU is considered “one of the best schools in the area” for undocumented students and other states, like Tennessee often “send their undocumented students here.” SGA President Andi Dahmer said students who are undocumented “often don’t report” if they are protected under DACA. “Your constituents are among those protected by DACA,” Legislative Research Committee Chair Lillian Nellans said in favor of the resolution. “We need to do something for these students, and we need to do it now. This sends a message to those students that we are a tolerant campus and that we accept all students.” Senator Alex Sergent opposed the
tions and schedule needs, which are then sent to their TopNet accounts for registration. WKU offers step-by-step instructions online to show how to use Schedule Planner. Students are able to add courses, add breaks, generate multiple versions of their possible schedules and send their preferred schedule to the shopping cart. Their selected schedule sits in the shopping cart until their registration day, where students only have to click one button to sign up for their courses. Morgan Harris, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, said she noticed a big difference with the Schedule Planner software. “I’m able to see my options in real time and build in breaks for work,” Harris said. “It’s a one-step process that can be less stressful.” WKU is also in the process of hiring senior academic advisers. These advisers, which were first approved by former President Gary Ransdell, will aid students trying to change a major, minor or area of concentration. “These [adviser] positions could be a really good resource to help freshman
and people switching their majors from getting overwhelmed,” Harris said. Andrew Hartley is a senior biology major and said he thinks the Schedule Planner is a really good system for
resolution. He said he did not think the resolution represented SGA’s role on campus. “As a university, it is not our place to
argument,” Sergent said. “It is important to support this as Americans in our personal beliefs, but we represent the students of the university, and not all
”I’m able to see my options in real time and build in breaks for work.” WKU senior MORGAN HARRIS
freshmen and younger students. Hartley said he did not find the course scheduling process to be stressful once he declared his biology major, but the process was much more difficult when he had a general exploratory studies major. “I remember scheduling to be a bit of a rush,” Harley said. “It was hard to
“If we are to represent all students, then we need to hear both sides of the argument.” SGA senator ALEX SERGENT
put our political hat in a ring,” Sergent said. Public Relations Committee Chair William Hurst said that while he is “in support of DACA,” he did not think that “it is this university’s decision to make federal government decisions.” Senator Mark Clark said the resolution isn’t referring to criminals. “We cannot reduce them to objects,” he said. “People’s livelihoods are at stake here.” Sergent said the Senate needed to “come to a compromise.” He said the debate over passing Resolution 2-17-F was becoming a “battle of rhetoric.” “If we are to represent all students, then we need to hear both sides of the
of the students agree with this.” Nellans disagreed with Sergent. She said saying the Senate is “not supposed to vote with what 51 percent of students feel on everything.” “We’re supposed to vote for what’s best for our constituents, which oftentimes means protecting marginalized
wake up at 5 a.m. not knowing if you were going to get into all the classes you needed. Foreign languages like Spanish were always the hardest because they filled up so quickly and were necessary to have.” Students like Jeffersonville, Indiana, junior Christy Lester, who is double-majoring, found complications going through the advising and scheduling process. Lester, who has a double major in communication disorders and Spanish, said the shopping cart feature’s convenience eased a lot of her stress. Lester said she has two different advisers with whom she has to communicate and coordinate course schedules. “It allowed me to get organized, save my classes ahead of time and register at the click of a button,” Lester said. “I didn’t have to wake up early, look for each [Course Registration Number] and enter them individually.”
Reporter Emily DeLetter can be reached at 270-745-6011 and emily. deletter304@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @emilydeletter.
minority communities,” Nellans said. Hurst said passing the resolution would be a “political statement.” “We serve the majority,” Hurst said. “We don’t know if the majority approves of this resolution.” With 12 votes in favor of the resolution and 17 opposed, Resolution 2-17-F failed to reach a majority and was not passed. After the meeting, Dahmer said the Senate doesn’t just vote for the majority, and that statement is “incorrect.” “It’s important that senators realize that they were chosen to represent all of their constituents,” Dahmer said. “The Dreamers on this campus deserve to be on this campus as well as this country as much as any other student here.”
Reporter Nicole Ziege can be reached at 270-745-6011 and nicole.ziege825@ topper.wku.edu.
CRIME REPORTS • • •
Newburgh, Indiana, freshman Angelica Morrison reported the theft of a bluetooth speaker from her room in Pearce-Ford Tower worth approximately $65 on Oct. 23. Midway state freshman William Gerrow was issued a citation for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in Hugh Poland Hall on Oct. 24. Chrisney, Indiana, freshman Dakota Deller reported his cell phone worth approximately $743 stolen from Preston Center on Oct. 24.
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Nov. 2-7, 2017 Russell Miller Theatre, FAC Thursday thru Tuesday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm Adults $15, Students and Seniors (62+) $12 Order your tickets online: wku. showare.com Fine Arts Box Office: 270-745-3121 Monday through Friday, Noon - 4pm