OATdb Archive

2008 - 2009

Registrar

Goal
To Review Major Codes And Research To Add Historical Data To MAJR01R Report
Major codes will be reviewed and researched to add historical data to existing programs in preparation for the implementation of Banner

Objective
Revision Of Major Codes In The MAJR01M Program
The Registrar's Office will strive to ensure that the data contained within the MAJR01M Program is of the highest quality and is usefl to the University.

Indicator
Recent Historical Data On Major Codes Will Be Included In The MAJR01R Report
The Registrar's Office will "clean up" the data contained within the MAJR01M Program by reviewing, and if need be revising, the Major Codes. Futhermore, the Registrar's Office will see to the addition of the histrical data to this report. This data will provide a more efficient, useful report for SHSU.

Criterion
The Addition Of Fields To The MAJR01R Report Will Provide The Historical Information
All Major Codes will be reviewed, and if needed, revised, and additional fields will be added to the report to collect historical data.

Finding
Project Not Feasible
Clean up to the data was completed, however, Computer Services advised against any program modifications as we have purchased Banner, a new student information system. There will be many new features offered through this system, and it is possible that the collection of historical data of this type could be one of them.

Action
Work To Have Historical Data Available In Banner
In an effort to conserve programming time and resources of both Computer Services and the Registrar's Office, the Registrar's Office has decided to hold off on requesting a modification to this program. As Banner implementation proceeds, this will be on our "wish list" for banner and the student module team leads will work to ensure this information will be available through that system.

Goal
Implement DARS For The Masters/doctoral Degree Plans
To input data so that the masters/doctoral students will be able to use the DARS degree audit system

Objective
To Have DARS Degree Plans In Use Across Campus For Masters/doctoral Degree Plans
Once masters/doctoral degree plan data has been entered unti the DARS System and the system is fully operational, all graduate departments as well as students, will be required to use the DARS system to manage their degree plans.

Indicator
Colleges Adopting The DARS System
The number of colleges at SHSU that go online with DARS will be the measure of the successful adoption of the DARS System by the University.

Criterion
Masters/Doctoral Degree Plans Will Be Available For At Least Two Of The Colleges By The End Of The Year
At least two of the five Colleges at SHSU will go online with the DARS System for their graduate programs.

Finding
The COE, CHSS, COA, And COCJ Are All Using The DARS Degree Plan System
The criterion for this objective was not only met, but, was exceeded. The criterion was to have 2 colleges completed. Of the 5 Colleges at SHS, 4 of them are now using DARS. The College of Business (COBA) is the only one not using DARS at this time.

Action
Work Toward COBA Using The Degree Plan Software
The Universities Banner implementation is also including a new degree plan software program called Degree Works. As the implementation continues, we will transition COBA to this new degree plan software. In addition, the other four colleges currently using DAS will eventually be transitioned to the new software.

Goal
Continue To Add A "formal" Touch To Commencement
Progress has been made in this area, however, the flooring used during commencement is extremely worn out and is in need of being replaced.

Objective
Increase The
The Registrar's Office will seek to continue to increase the "formality" of the University's Comencement event by striving to make a number of improvements to the quality and content of.

Indicator
Seek Quotes For New Flooring
Quotes will be needed in order to purchase new flooring for the commencement ceremony.

Criterion
New flooring in place by the August 2008 commencement
Quotes will have been received and a new flooring chosen so that the flooring will arrive and be used during the August 2008 commencement ceremony.

Finding
Flooring Specs Were Created And Bids Were Accepted
Flooring has been chosen and ordered. It should arrive in time to be used for the August commencement and will be available for future commencement exercises as well.

Indicator
Continue Working With The SHSUu Communications Dept To Produce A "Thank You" Video
The Registrar's Office will work with the SHSU Communications department oh the production of a "thanks" video. This video will feature short clips of varios students "shouting out" their thank you's to friends and family.

Criterion
Video Ready For Spring 2009 Commencement
The production of the "thanks" video will be complete in time for it's implementation as part of the Spring 2009 Commencement Exercise.

Finding
Students Tape Video Clips
The Registrar's Office was unable to meet this criterion for the 2008-2009 year. Upon reflection, the project suffered a number of difficulties. First, student turn out was low for the taping. Additionally, appropriate video equipment that was needed to fully produce this vedeo was not available , nor was the necessary funding available.

Indicator
Implement A Means Of Showing The "Thanks" Video During Commencement
The Registrar's Office will receive quotes to purchase the appropriate equipment to display the newly created "Thanks" video.

Criterion
Equipment In Place For Spring 2009 Commencement Ceremony
Appropriate equipment will be purchased and be in place in time for use during the Spring2009 Commencement Ceremony.

Finding
Delivery Method Chosen
Several delivery methods were researched, however, funding for the project was not available and thus the Registrar's Office was unable to purchase the equipment. Additionally, difficulties with the "Thanks" video project also meant that the video that was to be shown during the Spring 2009 commencement was unavailable, thus eliminating the need for the projection equipment for this year.

Action
Purchase Flooring
The Registrar's office is pleased with the new flooring that has been purchased for use during Commencement Events. The office will monitor the quality and condition of this flooring, and will make another purchase in the future if it should become necessary.

Following a number of discussions regarding the future viability of the "thanks" video, the Registrar's Office has determinded that the necessary funding for this project will be unavailable. Therefore, the decision has been made to cancel the project.

Due to a general lack of funding, and the canceling of the "thanks" video project, the Registrar's Office has decided that there will be no need to purchase the projection equipment and has cnaceled the project.

Goal
Cross Train Staff
To have every staff memeber cross trained in the various tasks of the Registrar's Office.

Objective
Each Staff Member Will Be Able To Answer All General Questions That Come To Our Office
All staff will be trained to answer general questions concerning commencement, TSI, GPA calculations, reading degree plans, etc.

Indicator
Work Station Manuals Will Be Updated So That Questions Can Be Answered More Easily Across The Board
There will be less transferring of phone calls within our own department and fewer students waiting around to see a specific person to handle their needs. The manuals can be used to "find" the answer without transferring the call.

Criterion
All Staff Members Are Handling The Various Questions/concerns That Come Through This Office
Anyone in the Registrar's Office should be able to answer general questions concerning the charge of the Registrar's Office.

Finding
Cross Training In Progress
Cross training is has been slow due to changes in staffing and changes in duty assignments.

Action
Plan Cross Training
Develop a plan for future cross training.

Goal
Improve The Tuition Rebate Process
Better publicty to the graduating seniors concerning the tution rebate.

Objective
Increase The Number Of Students Filing Tuition Rebate Applications
The Registrar's Office will seek to increase the number of students filing applications for the Tuition Rebate.

Indicator
Year To Year Increase In The Number Of Tuition Rebate Applications Arriving In The Registrar's Office
The success of this objective will be measured by the year-to-year increase in the number of Tition Rebate Applications arriving in the Registrar's Office.

Criterion
Rebates Checks Delivered To Students Earlier
The Registrar's Office has a goal of a 50% increase in rebate applications for the Spring 2009 graduates.

Finding
Tuition Rebate Applications Up
There was a 230% increase in the number of applications received Spring 2009 compared to Spring 2008. There was also a 229% increase in the number of applications approved.

Action
Add Web Links To Tutition Rebate Form
The Registrar's Office had hoped to promote the Tuition Rebate through the placement of web links on several different SHSU web pages often visited by students; however, it was not possible to place these links in time. Therefore the Registrar's Office mailed lettters out to allgraduating seniors informating them of the Tuition Rebate. Despite this difficulty, student response will still fantastic. Going into the 2009-2010, the Registrar's Offie will see to place links to the tuition rebate form on the Registrar's homepage and we will ask that each college place a link to the rebate form on their pages as well. It is hoped that by taking these additional advertising steps that even more students might be reached and informaed of the availability of the Tuition Rebate.

Goal
Work With Admissions To Aid In The Recruitment/Retention Process
The Registrar's Office is hoping, with this goal, to aid in the recruitment process with the addition of a few "tools"

Objective
Encourage And Assist Returning Students
The Registrar's Office will provide assistance to students who resign from school or to students who have been inactive for awhile, by providing them information on what steps they should take in order to retturn to SHSU. This information will be included in a postcard entitled "How Do I Come Back?" It is hoped that this information will help and encourage them to return to SHSU.

Indicator
Creation Of Data Base For The Postcards That Go Out
A data base will be created to track to whom the "How Do I Come Back" postcards are being sent. This information will then be compared to subsequent university enrollment data to allow the Registrar's Office to monitor the success of this program.

Criterion
Mailing Of 300 Postcards
The Registrar's Office estimates that we will mail approximately 300 postcards to students who resigned in the Fall 2008 semester encouraging them to return to SHSU.

Finding
Uncertainity As To The Success Of The Post Card Campaign
The Registrar's Office mailed out 307 postcards. Due to limited time, development of the spreadsheet was not completed therby hindering the measurement of success with this campaign.

Action
Create Database To Track Success
The Registrar's Office will continue to mail the "How Do I Come Back" postcards to targeted student groups. Additionally, in 2009-2010 the office will seek to complete the creation of the database of pos-card recipients so that information can be tracked and compared with University enrollment data to see whether or not they re-enroll, thus determing if this is a succesful venue for attracting students back to SHSU.

Objective
Create A Newsletter To Be Distributed To Counselors And Advisors
The Registrar's Office will seek to create a newsletter that will contain information from various departments on the SHSU campus that would be beneficial to a high school student that is considering attending the University. Additionally, a seperate newsletter will also be distributed to community college advisors, thus facilitating it's use as a recruitment tool for tansfer students as well.

Indicator
Newsletter And A Website Will Go Into Production
A link to the newsletter and various other departments on campus will be made available to our "target" market of high school counselors and community college advisors. We will monitor the hits to this site to determine if we are reaching our "target" market. Additionally, the Registrar's Offie will seek to ensure that the newsletter will be received favorably by its target audiences by collecting feed back from its recipients.

Criterion
Positive Feedback From Target Group
The Registrar's Office will seek to send the newletters to 100% of its targeted audience. Additionally, the success of the newsletter will be measured by the amount of positive feedback received from our target groups.

Finding
Project Not Complete
With several staff members being pulled away to work on the Banner implementation, this project has not beeen completed. However, the planning stages of the project have been organized and actual work on the newsletters will begin with the 2009-2010 year.

Action
Complete The Newsletters And Web "portal" For Both H.S. And CC Counselors
Following a number of meetings, the staff of the Registrar's Office working with the staff of the Admissions office, will continue implementing this objective in 2009-2010. It is the departments hope to be able to electronically deliver the newsletter to our targeted audiences via website by summer 2010, and hopefully be able to begin collecting feedback by that time as well.


Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement In this last period the Registrar's Office discoverd that it was not feasible to pursue many of the goals due to the Banner Implementation or there was lack of funding. However, there are still several action items on our list that we can work toward completing. Our newsletters to the High School and Community Colleges will be first and foremost on the agenda. This newsletter could possible prove to be an great asset to the recruitment of students to SHSU. Along with the newsletters, establishing the portal for those counselors to access SHSU website will be vital to the project as well. Our plans to advertise the Tuition Rebate should benefit the students tremendously. We will work to complete our remaining action items as well.