The University Registrar and Information Technology Services announced plans to shut down the University’s telephone registration system REGGIE starting Sept. 7. University Registrar Robert Doolos said less than 1 percent of registration and scheduling transactions are made through REGGIE. “REGGIE was very helpful and did a great job in the technological period when the voice response systems were the new thing on the block,” Doolos said. In 1989, the University introduced REGGIE to replace an inefficient punch-card system that students formerly used to schedule classes. REGGIE enabled the University to immediately tell students whether they were enrolled in a course or not. “With a successful test run, the old punch-card system was completely eliminated the same year, and REGGIE became the primary registration system until PAWS online course registration was launched in the late 1990s,” said Margo Jolet, IT communications coordinator. Jolet said $10,379 of University funds formerly used to maintain REGGIE will be reallocated into the PAWS system in support of the University’s Flagship IT Strategy, a plan to enhance information technology. She said the first phase of these enhancements allow students to add multiple classes at once and check the availability of prerequisites for their courses. “It’s something that students have been asking for,” Jolet said. “We’ll reallocate those resources to put them into the PAWS interface, which is the most popular with students. We’ll unveil the project in parts as it’s built in the coming semesters.” Jacob Newsom, history sophomore, said it will make a difference to him when REGGIE is shut down because one less alternative to online scheduling will be available. He said he wanted to use REGGIE to schedule his classes next semester. “PAWS crashes on me all the time,” Newsom said. While Jolet said PAWS is the primary registration system, students can still schedule classes with advisers in their colleges. She said students with disabilities who are unable to use PAWS can register through the Office of Disability Services.
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]