Now that registration is wrapping up at Gavilan College, the
admissions staff is evaluating the performance of the new phone-in
registration system. Meanwhile, they’re also gearing up for
improvements to allow more students to register by phone.
The system, called GavNOW, began operating June 21 and offers
students another option besides mail-in and walk-up
registration.
By Lori Stuenkel
South Valley Newspapers
Now that registration is wrapping up at Gavilan College, the admissions staff is evaluating the performance of the new phone-in registration system. Meanwhile, they’re also gearing up for improvements to allow more students to register by phone.
The system, called GavNOW, began operating June 21 and offers students another option besides mail-in and walk-up registration.
“We wanted to provide students with a convenience,” said Joy Parker, director of admissions and records.
Gavilan began creating the system in fall 2002 and is now being offered on a limited basis. Only returning students may use it because it does not check scores on the assessment tests for placement in the appropriate math and English courses. Also, only those paying by credit card may call in and sign up for classes.
The system already checks students’ prerequisite courses and will not allow callers to register for a class without the required course work.
Right now, fewer than 10 percent of Gavilan’s student population has used the system, Parker said.
“A lot more people would use it if they knew about it,” she said.
Gavilan made only a small effort to urge students to use GavNOW. With fewer people using the system, any problems that arose could be dealt with more easily.
Also, many of the students pay their fees in cash, Parker said.
New students will be able to use GavNOW as early as September. Then, the system should be updated to fix the problem of checking assessment tests. New students will still have to mail or bring in an application.
The only other problem being addressed is the way credit card numbers are processed. When students enter their credit card number, the system does not tell them if that number or the expiration date were entered incorrectly. The phone simply hangs up on the user if either number is wrong.
Right now, anyone wanting to sign up for a class can call to check if there is still room, Parker said.
Students at Gavilan who learned of GavNOW were glad to hear they have another registration option, even if they haven’t taken advantage of it.
“It sounds great,” said Jacob Lopez, a sophomore at Gavilan studying to be an aviation maintenance technician. “I know a lot of people will use it.”
To use GavNOW, call 846-3729.
