Animo.sys receives positive feedback, suggestions after second run

Oracle (Animo.sys), in replacement of the My.LaSalle System (MLS), was used as the official enrollment service provider for the third term of AY 2013-2014. Despite several glitches, students report that the new enrollment system is more efficient and effective, and has resulted to an overall improvement in the system.

Despite several glitches, 91 out of 110 students report that the new enrollment system is more effective and has resulted to an overall improvement in the often criticized enrollment process, according to a survey conducted by The LaSallian.

Preparations

Just a few days prior to enrollment, the University Student Government (USG) released a series of publicity blasts through social media, stating that the enlistment for the term will be conducted through Animo.sys. The Office of the Executive Secretary was responsible for the full blasting of information.

In collaboration with the batch presidents of ID 113, the Information Technology Services (ITS) office and the Office of the University Registrar (OUR), the USG also conducted a seminar free for all students who wished to be familiarized with the enlistment process using Animo.sys.

Moreover, the administration, specifically the OUR and ITS, randomly selected students from the USG and other student groups to undergo a test run to enroll using Animo.sys. Vice President for Internal Affairs Carlo Inocencio says that USG students were chosen to enable them to aid other students or spread the information on the entire enrollment procedure.

Inocencio states that concerns raised during the enrollment proper were reported to the USG, college presidents and Executive Board (EB) officers. The concerns were then collated and reported to the OUR and the ITS, depending on the nature of the reports. He adds that no concerns were reported after the enrollment.

Raising and addressing students’ concerns

In a survey conducted by The LaSallian, 71 out of 110 respondents did not experience any problems during the enrollment. Following DLSU’s grading system, 35 percent of the respondents rated Animo.sys with a grade of 3.0 and 24 percent rated the new system with a grade of 3.5.

On the other hand, respondents still reported several glitches. Students claimed that their classes were removed from their respective shopping carts despite having them included prior to enrollment.

A number of classes that were supposedly open were already closed upon enrollment. “Some of the classes I placed in my shopping cart disappeared the next day, and I wasn’t able to get these classes anymore despite the fact they were already on my class schedule the day before,” informs a student from the College of Liberal Arts (CLA).

Another CLA student laments that when confirming her enrollment, an “X” mark was found next to the name of the class, signifying that no slots were available, despite the class still having available slots as as verified by the academic assistant.

Inocencio reports that other concerns included an incomplete list of courses in Animo.sys. “With that, we coordinate immediately with the OUR to look for classes and to add the missing classes as soon as possible for the students to be able to enroll during the day,” he adds.

Moreover, some students could not enter the system even during their respective schedules during enlistment. Inocencio claims that the protocol for such cases entails getting the ID number of the student, sending it to ITS and double-checking the schedule. If the student is scheduled to enroll during that particular time, the system is immediately opened for him or her to enroll.

Students’ suggested improvements

Respondents suggest more features to be added to the enrollment system. An student from the School of Economics says, “The system lacks the ability to show the number of enrolled [students] or slots remaining in a class.” One student suggests that animo.sys be linked to schedninja.com, a website that allows students to easily create and manage their schedules before and after enrollment proper.

24 students clamored that animo.sys should have a more organized and user-friendly interface for easier and more convenient navigation. Respondents also added that the system should also minimize the number of steps and buttons for clicking, for faster transition and less chances of lagging.

Respondents also wish for a simpler process of inputting subjects. “Instead of entering the class number or the first two letters, [it would be better if] the entire course code could immediately be entered,” said a CLA student. Blasting of the class numbers should also be done earlier for faster enrollment, although the Enrollment Council had already forwarded the directive for the implementation of such measures to the colleges.

Keeping it consistent

An Enrollment Council meeting is conducted where the enrollment system and its corresponding improvements are discussed, creating a proper venue where students’ concerns can be raised, following deliberations by a smaller multisectoral Enrollment Technical Working Group. Any improvements or issues can then be settled by the USG with the administration, allowing proper student representation.

Inocencio adds that an informal and close coordination as well as proper dialogue with the OUR has also been ongoing for the past two terms regarding enrollment concerns. The student representative on the Enrollment Council is Legislative Assembly Representative Gregg Tolentino, chairperson for Students’ Rights and Welfare.