Our Opinion: The University must fix the problems it is having with the new registration system and make sure it fits students’ needs for the future.

The University introduced its new registration system in February, which has received mixed reviews from students, according to Vice Provost and University Registrar Louis Hunt.

Students should have been gone through a training before registering to avoid problems with confusion of the new system to avoid problems, but students are still experiencing issues with the new registration system, which can be harmful to students’ planning.

Though students have had problems, the new system has some features, which make it superior to the old system.

The new system has windows of time for registering, ensuring that upperclassmen will get the classes they need, so students are not burdened to wake up at 7:30 a.m. to try and get the classes they want.

It has a feature in which students can swap classes instead of having to drop a class before registering for one in its place. The new system also does not require a PIN number.

But some advisers do not know the new registration system, making it difficult for students to register, it does not allow students to print out their weekly schedule, making it difficult for students who want to have an outline of their schedules and it has TBA, or to be announced, listed for their class time, which may lead to an overlapping schedule.

It also may be difficult for students to navigate because the tutorial is difficult to find on the Web site, it consists of too many steps to register for classes and it is too different from the degree progress system, or the degree audit. This can possibly confuse students because it does not mesh well with the old system.

Students also can sign up for an unlimited number of classes, so students can pick and choose which classes they want to keep when the next semester rolls around, preventing other students from taking those classes.

The new registration system has its flaws, but the University has time to work out the kinks by the time students register for classes for spring 2010.

It is not only possible to fix these problems, but it is critical for last semester for those who are going to be seniors so it will not keep them from signing up for final classes.

Though it is commendable the University is trying to upgrade its system, which it needed badly, it is evident there needs to be work done on the new system, but mostly it needs to be more user friendly.