September 8, 2004

Student group agrees with need to postpone Web-based course registration

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A team of West Lafayette campus representatives has recommended that a Web-based course registration system for students be postponed until other planned software upgrades are under way.

The team, composed of staff from Information Technology at Purdue, Student Services, Space Management and Academic Scheduling and academic advising, cited complex technological risks and high costs in its recommendation.

Members proposed instead that online course registration coincide with Purdue's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) initiative, which will integrate business processes such as student services administration, sponsored programs and research administration.

The ERP, scheduled to begin in January, is the central thrust of the OnePurdue project, a four-year initiative to modernize the university's software systems for student services, human resources, research administration and finance.

"As anxious as we all are to offer students Web-based course registration, the team's study clearly shows that rushing to do so would not be prudent," said Provost Sally Mason. "The team's thorough findings show that the costs outweigh the benefits.

"Also compelling is the student group's assessment that hurrying with this project would be fiscally irresponsible."

The team estimated costs to move forward with online registration before implementing ERP from $1.8 million to $2.7 million.

Future scheduling of online registration will depend on progress of ERP and OnePurdue, which are currently in the planning stages.

Source: Sally Mason, (765) 494-9709, sfmason@purdue.edu

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