UAF advising and paperwork systems

November 22, 2016

University Relations

I am a staff person and a second-time grad student, and my family member is an undergrad student. UAF's inefficient systems of paperwork make it very difficult to work here, to go to school here, and to speak highly of the university to others. Having attended two other universities, I know that paperwork systems can be improved (lessened, digitized), but in the years I have been here, they haven't changed at all. As a grad student, I have had to physically take paperwork around to multiple offices every semester in order to register for classes. As a staff person, onboarding paperwork was equally inefficient. Recently, my family member attempted to register for classes online, but had to meet with an advisor first. Shouldn't the rigor of UAF's admissions process be enough to assume students can enroll in classes by themselves online, without having to meet with an advisor every semester to approve of their courses? After calling, coming in to the Registrar's office in person, being told to send an email, and calling twice more, my family member is still unable to register for classes, and is now being told to fill out a paper registration form, have it signed by an advisor, and bring it in to the Registrar's office in person. If UAF wants to increase student enrollment, and keep staff happy during tough financial times, perhaps it should come into the 21st century with other universities, and stop putting up paper roadblocks.