By Jeff Rost
With registration ending for the spring ‘05 semester at Buffalo State College, the use of the college's SABRE program has quieted down. Talk between students about the pros and cons of the college's state of the art online registering process has not stopped though.
The Student Administration aid Billing Registration and Enrollment management (SABRE) program opened for student use nearly two years ago. The SABRE program gives students the ability to register for classes, monitor the availability of classes, and make any adjustments to his/her schedule.
From interviewing 15 to 20 students at Buffalo State College, many said they enjoy the registering process. Joe Tomczak, a junior, enjoys the process because he does not have to commute to school to register for classes. Not having to commute saves Tomczak precious dollars in gas. As a transfer student from Erie Community College , Tomczak believes the process is less stressful compared to past semesters at his previous college.
Some pros of the SABRE Program from the interviews:
• less stressful
• do not have to commute to school
• easy
• everything is “do it yourself”
• instant check ability
• state of the art
• instant registration of classes
The interviews also revealed that the registration process sometimes leaves students stressed. First semester student Ashley Szpila thought her first attempt at online registration was “horrible.” Szpila felt as if she was uninformed as to how to use the program.
Jonathan Pawlowski, former Buffalo State student, compares the registration process to a “ crap shoot.”
He said: “Everyone is fighting to get the same class and you will eventually lose out.”
Some cons of the SABRE Program from the interviews:
• needs better time availability
• teacher can't force a student into a class
• students can't sign on if the program is too busy
• too complicated
• needs to be updated more often
• needs to be a limit on wait listing
• no safeguards for mistakes
Various students even went as far as to comment on possible fixes they would like seen done to the SABRE program.
• a longer add/drop period
• SABRE to not be closed during the hours of 8 p.m to 1 a.m. Students would like to see the shutdown hours more toward the period of 1 a.m to 6 a.m.
• easier software
The next round of registration for summer and fall 2005 classes begins on April 15 th .
Email: rostjw06@mail.buffalostate.edu
Links:
http://www.buffalostate.edu/sabre/students/ - SABRE website
http://www.buffalostate.edu/offices/registrar/ - Registrars website
http://www.buffalostate.edu/academicsupport/x557.xml -SABRE support website
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