News

Introduction to Web Based Student Self Registration

The Department Of Academic Administration has continued the tradition of breaking new ground in the use of technology with the introduction of web based on line student registration for all students registering for 2003/04. The joint project between Academic Administration and C&IT Services (Corporate Applications) means that continuing students can self register themselves from anywhere in the world as soon as their assessment results have been published. New students can also register online as soon as they accept their unconditional offer of a place.

Online registration increases the efficiency of the process as well as enhancing the integrity of the data stored on the student record systems. Glasgow Caledonian University is the first University in Scotland to achieve web based student self registration, and is possibly the first University in the UK to do so.

Digital Identification for Short Loan Collection

This summer the Short Loan Collection, some 10,000 items will be transferred onto a digital identification and security system.

This change will allow items in the collection to be issued on a self service basis using the self-issue/return machines. A new machine is being purchased especially to deal with the Short Loan collection. The digital chip in the book will carry not only the identifying number of the book but other cataloguing information as well. For the user the digital chip is read by the issue/return machine useless wireless technology. This technology increases the speed of the transaction as the book does not need to be placed in a specific way to allow the bar code reader to see the bar code. It is also more reliable as the digital system will not suffer from the misread errors that happen with bar codes as they get dirty or faded. The system allows for better management of the resources as staff can use a wireless hand held device, a bit like the phaser gun in Star Trek, to scan along the shelves and immediately locate items as well as detecting ones which are mis-shelved. This will also allow the short loan collection to be part of the extended hours offered by the Library on a self-service basis.

My.Caledonian - A Case Study of an Institutional Portal

Glasgow Caledonian University was one of the first Universities in the UK to successfully develop and deploy an institutional 'portal'. This innovative development has now been recognised by the award of a £5,000 grant by the JISC to produce a case study of My.Caledonian.

Further information can be obtained from Pat McKay, Information Strategy Manager.