Changes to academic anaylsis

Throughout the University's long history, UNC officials have striven to provide their students and faculty with the best services possible.

With that spirit in mind, the Office of the University Registrar, in collaboration with student government, has taken up the task of updating the degree audit function featured on Student Central.

Using this system, also referred to as "Analysis of Academic Progress," students can monitor their progress in completing major and graduation requirements.

University officials are in the process of gathering data through two input sessions this week, the first of which was held Wednesday morning.

Officials said they are looking to complete revisions of the 7-year-old program by fall 2006, in time for the complete overhaul of the undergraduate curriculum.

The change of curriculum is one of the main reasons for revising the function, said Assistant University Registrar Kelly Rowett.

"We're using (the change) as an opportunity to refashion the degree audit system," she said.

The general nature of the system has evolved since its beginnings. Originally designed primarily for student use, deans and advisers now commonly use the system to check the academic progress of their students.

Tom Bowers, senior associate dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said the system is especially important at his school, where every professor doubles as an adviser.

"We're making increased use of the audit system," Bowers said. "And anything else that can be done to make it more user friendly is something we're in favor of."

Bowers was one of several faculty members who attended Wednesday's meeting. He declared it a success, saying all parties seem eager to turn their ideas for revision into a reality.

The upgraded degree audit system is meant to be more user friendly for faculty, in addition to serving students better.

Simplifying the system was one of Student Body President Matt Calabria's platform planks in his campaign for election last spring.

The actual task of following through on Calabria's promise falls on the shoulders of Brian Phelps, co-chairman of the Student Congress Academic Affairs Committee.

Phelps noted the broad range of topics covered at Wednesday's meeting.

"(They) ranged from simple things like formatting to more complex things like making the degree system look more like an academic worksheet," he said.

He was one of the only students who attended Wednesday's meeting and said he encourages students to attend the second session at 8:30 a. m. Friday in room 210 of the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.