Nic Smooths Registration Process For Students Long Lines, Advising Crunch Solved By Using Daily Signup Rather Than Two Short Sessions

When Kyle Kearney registered for classes at North Idaho College two years ago, he stood in long lines, waiting with dozens of other students.

When he re-registered at NIC Thursday after taking a hiatus to save money, his experience was entirely different. Kearney waited only a few minutes before being ushered into a closed-door meeting with advising specialist Lewis Watkins.

“There was a huge crowd last time,” said the 22-year-old Post Falls resident. “This time, they were ready to go. It’s a lot faster and more efficient.”

The difference is due to NIC’s extended registration system. In the past, the college handled registration for new students in a pair of two- to three-day stints in July and August. Students jammed the second floor of Molstead Library, waiting their turn. Advisers were rushed and the process was impersonal, with a row of students facing a row of advisers sitting at computers across a long table.

In May, the college began “ongoing” registration, with students registering Monday through Friday, on Tuesday evenings and some Saturdays. Students meet one-on-one with an adviser in a quiet office and discuss placement test scores, interests and goals. Using computers, advisers can instantly determine whether classes are full and can place students into their selected courses or onto a waiting list.

“I think they feel as though they have someone to talk to,” said Mona Klinger, a speech instructor who was registering students Thursday. “You can hold their hand through the process and not rush them.”

Kearney said the last time he registered, he felt pressured to hurry because of the long line behind him. “This time, it seems like they were more relaxed,” he said.

Student services is registering about 150 students per week. When continuing students are included, more than 3,300 students already are signed up for fall classes, and there’s still another month of registration. Compare that with last year’s record-high fall enrollment of 3,943 and it leads Tami Haft to one conclusion.

“We’ll definitely see enrollment go up,” said Haft, the coordinator of new student advising and testing.

Another change made this year that smooths the process is allowing students to substitute ACT or SAT scores for the college’s placement test. And, for the first time, students scoring high on placement tests do not have to take entry-level English courses.

Extending registration also has given college administrators more time to add classes as sections fill up.

“Every Friday, I get a list of what the enrollments are and what classes are closed,” said Jerry Gee, vice president of instruction. “I can sit down with division chairs and talk about how to address those class needs.

“In prior years, they had to accomplish that in a few days’ time. This is giving them a lot more time.”