Navigating the system, tips and tricks of Peoplesoft

Erin Mason, of the Office of the Registrar, presented her expertise with UConn's PeopleSoft system at this week's installment of "Tuesdays @ Homer," providing a foundation for students new to the PeopleSoft system at UConn, and further tips for those more seasoned PeopleSoft navigators.

With a specialty in records and enrollment, Mason demonstrated techniques with the system that taught the audience to use this resource more efficiently.

Exploring the Student Center, Mason showed the importance of keeping up-to-date with one's academic requirements under a student's Academic Advising Report. This section of PeopleSoft helps one to see how classes "fulfill major requirements...[and is] good to see progression over time."

"[It's important to] check all your graduation requirements…because a lot of things overlap," said Chris Cadden, 6th-semester mechanical engineering major.

The next issue that Mason addressed was enrolling for classes, potentially the most strenuous part of a student's relationship with the PeopleSoft system.

Mason said, "[Don't] go in thinking you're going to have a perfect schedule."

When addressing the average student's idea of a "perfect schedule," Mason advised, "it is better to have good instructors than a good schedule."

Problems students often face involve registering for and swapping courses, full classroom sections, prerequisite requirements and reserved seats in certain courses. Mason addressed these issues, saying that simple mistakes, like not enrolling in courses after putting them in the system's "shopping cart," can "cause a lot of stress."

Further, when swapping courses, Mason advised that the "swap" option is "safer than dropping and adding" a new class, as the student risks losing both potential courses.

"[Mason] cleared up swapping classes and pass/fail options, and putting back-ups in your ‘shopping cart,' which I thought was smart," said Ellington Montgomery, 2nd-semester nursing major.

Another aspect of the PeopleSoft system that Mason brought to light included the creation of a Final Plan of Study with an academic advisor. A student's listing of academic requirements from PeopleSoft helps greatly with this process, and Mason urged students to build "good departmental contacts" with professors and advisors. This is particularly important because although PeopleSoft gives an overall view of courses, an advisor still provides the "better read of what classes will be available." One further aspect that many attendees did not know of was the "what-if report," which Mason described as a wonderful tool for students considering switching majors.

Mason encouraged students to use the Office of the Registrar's website for online forms such as those for transcript requests, independent study, and schedule revision requests.