I would like to hear from anyone who converted existing data into the Registrar's Office component of Student Information System.  Any input regarding conversion issues, especially on the Degree Requirements tab and transcripts, would be much appreciated.

I know only of those who have chosen not to convert existing data.  This is apparently the best way to go with this system; I wish our organization had known of extensive conversion problems prior to making this choice.

Carol,

 We converted student and course data from our old system, a DOS-based system called POISE that has been folded into Jenzabar.  Most of our issues have involved courses, grades, units, gpa, and transfer work, and have to do with the free-form way we used to enter data into the old system.  We are just now undertaking a side-by-side transcript verification process.  We discovered an issue with repeated courses that stumped us for a long time and eventually required an extra bit of conversion time/cost.  The time-consuming gpa calculation process (every term, every year of data) kept us from really seeing the transcript in final form before the final conversion.  We've also struggled with variable unit courses, courses in which class sections have different titles (like independent studies), CR/NC and P/F courses.  Currently we have delayed implementation of degree audit, so all classes are showing up as a running list of electives.  This is much more access than was previously available to students and advisors, so we're happy for now.  I'm not sure when we'll tackle all the set-up of degrees and requirements.  There's an issue in the system right now that has to be resolved before we can move forward.  You can only indicate 1 answer to the question, what is the lowest grade a student can get and earn credit.  We have more than 1 answer to that question (e.g. D for undergrad general ed and electives, C- for English composition series, B- for graduate students).  Until we can make a distinction in degree audit about which classes count for generalized credit vs. counting to meet a requirement, we can't use that piece of the system.

Just some ramblings, but perhaps they'll help a bit.  I haven't been involved in this forum previously, so I hope to take advantage of the collective wisdom of peers.

 Take care, Jeanette Calixto

University Registrar, Holy Names University, Oakland, California