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Incoming Freshmen Appreciate New Early Registration Program
By
Andrea Weaver, web editor
 More
than 82 percent of the incoming freshmen class at Meredith
College participated in a new registration process that enabled
them to sign up for fall semester courses earlier this summer.
In previous years, first-year students took assessment tests
and registered for courses during orientation
in August.
“Early registration relieves students’ stress about
whether or not they will get to take the classes they want,”
said Amy Hitlin, director of the Office
of Academic Advising.
With early registration, students receive class schedules
from the College before they arrive on campus for orientation.
In previous years, freshmen registered for classes after moving
to campus.
The early registration program has received high marks from
students. “Our evaluations were very, very good,”
Hitlin said.
As a student wrote in her evaluation: “I loved knowing
that I didn’t have to worry about registering two days
before school.” Another student wrote: “I liked
meeting new people and learning about the different things
I’ll experience at Meredith.”
In spring 2002, the College invited 43 new students to test
an early registration program. A work group comprised of students,
faculty and staff developed the Meredith College Early Registration
Program. The campus offices and departments charged with developing
the successful program include academic advising, academic
affairs, admissions, dean of students, English, enrollment,
first-year experience, foreign languages and literatures,
honors, mathematics and computer science, student development
and the registrar.
The pilot program went well, and Meredith opened early registration
to all incoming freshmen in spring 2003. Sessions were held
May 31 and June 13. Students completed academic assessment
tests, met with academic advisers to discuss their course
preferences, met with student advisers for advice on how to
succeed at Meredith, attended information sessions about campus
services, and toured residence halls.
According to their evaluations, students especially enjoyed
the advising sessions.
“My student adviser was really helpful and made sure
I felt comfortable,” one student wrote. Another student
praised her faculty adviser: “Not only did she plan out
my first semester, but she made sure I had all my credits
to graduate.”
Early registration frees up more time during orientation for
group activities, which help new students meet people more
quickly and increases their comfort level as they begin college,
Hitlin said.
“We’re giving them more tools to help them succeed,”
she said.
MTI Marks New Milestone
By
Erin Hege, ’04
This
fall the incoming junior class will once again make history
in the Meredith Technology Initiative’s Laptop Program.
Two years ago, the class of 2005 became the first class to
receive IBM ThinkPad laptops included in Meredith's tuition.
During the second week of classes, Aug. 27-29, juniors will
turn in their old laptops for new models with updated features
such as a CD burner and a DVD player. 
The new laptops are faster, have more than double the memory
space, have a larger hard drive and are equipped with Windows
XP rather than Windows 98. Students can now set either the
touch pad or the track point as the active mouse. When the
juniors graduate in 2005, they will be able to take these
laptops with them to keep.
Students eagerly anticipate their new laptops.
“It is great to be the first class to go through the
entire laptop initiative,” said junior Victoria Bunch.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what the new computer
can do.”
The full-time students in the Class of 2007 will receive their
first Meredith laptops on August 19 during Freshman Orientation.
Each student will receive a laptop, printer and carrying case.
The freshman receive the same models as the juniors.
The Meredith Technology Initiative (MTI) supports a multi-faceted
plan to equip students, faculty and staff with innovative
technological products to enhance teaching and learning.
“The portability of the laptop makes the learning process
smoother,” said Rebecca Duncan, assistant professor of
English and member of the MTI committee. “Students can
collaborate in class and record their ideas, so their work
is already underway when they return to the assignment later.”
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