High-tech help speeds up enrollment

On-line self-services accessible through My Sac State—as well as a later payment deadline for student fees—provided students with the tools to take care of registration earlier this year.

In previous years, students registered during the months of July and August, and fees were due prior to their registration. This year, continuing students were able to begin registration in April, and new students could register beginning in June.

Registration is now a strictly on-line process, says director of Outreach, Admissions and Records Emiliano Diaz. “This was all driven by the ease and convenience of the Common Management System. It’s quicker and more convenient for the students to do this on-line, rather than filling out paperwork and mailing it in or dropping it off,” he says.

“Another advantage to getting these enrollment numbers in early is our ability to study the data and get a better snapshot of the student population that is returning to campus,” says Diaz.

A change in University policy to defer student payment of fees rather than to require payment at the time of registration was another way to get the registration process going, says Diaz.

My Sac State, the portal for student registration and information, provides the student’s application status, enrollment and class schedule, academic records, degree progress, financial aid information, student account information, a record of any holds, “to do” lists and personal and general announcements.

Students also had the advantage this semester of putting themselves on a “wait list” for desired full classes. In the past, if a spot opened up in a full class, the next student attempting to register for it would get in. When adding classes on My Sac State, students are immediately notified if their desired classes are full and the student can choose to put themselves on a wait list. The first student on the wait list will be moved into the class if a spot is vacated, and new students enrolling will not be put ahead of wait list students when space becomes available. “It can ease some uncertainties and is fairer to students,” says Diaz.

Outreach, Admissions and Records staff were available for students’ questions regarding the new registration process and general admissions information as well, although the demand for “live body” help wasn’t excessive. “The on-line registration process is pretty intuitive, and doesn’t require a lot of technical expertise,” says Diaz. “Our students did really well with this. They’re taking care of business early, which makes their lives—and ours—easier.”