A new software system will expedite and streamline the event registration process for student organizations, according to Ian Jamieson, coordinator for student organizations and leadership, who spoke with Marquette Student Government at Thursday’s senate meeting.
Jamieson discussed the purchase of Marquette’s Collegiate Link license at the meeting. The license is partially funded by MUSG and will launch for use by Marquette student organizations on Jan. 23.
According to Jamieson, Collegiate Link is advanced software that will speed up the process of submitting forms to the Office of Student Development for event registration.
The software will eliminate Marquette’s current registration process of completing forms, which require forms to be manually typed into a computer system. Jamieson said this process often causes confusion.
“Students’ penmanship is often illegible, which results in an inaccurate input of information,” he said.
Collegiate Link email notifications tell Jamieson’s office when an event is pending on the site. Students will receive similar email notifications when their event has been approved.
Jamieson said about 1,400 events are registered each year, and the Collegiate Link software will make the process more timely and efficient.
The Collegiate Link site setup involves simple navigation where students enter a homepage entitled “Flyer Board,” listing all upcoming events organizations host on campus. The site maintains an interest matching program where students may type keywords or phrases and instantly be matched to Marquette organizations seen as a good fit.
Every approved organization will have its own Web page on the site where it can post elections, upcoming events, announcements, agendas and rosters.
Jamieson said as of Feb. 6, Marquette will no longer accept paper forms for registration. Therefore, student organizations must be prepared in understanding the mechanics of Collegiate Link.
In the following semester, there will be nine workshops to educate students about event registration, Jamieson said, and every organization is required to attend at least one.
“There will be backup in helping students transition in this process,” Jamieson promised.
Collegiate Link will support the 255 organizations on campus, but Jamieson said the program is developing. Initial pitfalls include the inability to reserve rooms or engage in event management.
The goal is to have the site up and running by the next Preview and orientation sessions so incoming students can use the site to understand what student involvement opportunities Marquette offers, Jamieson said.