College isn’t just about going to class and making the grade.
So much goes on outside the classroom in what can be referred to as the “business of being a student.”
From advising to financial aid, students can get lost trying to figure it all out, especially while juggling classes, jobs, extracurriculars, and the pandemic.
“The business of being a student – registration, billing, scholarships, and other similar processes – should be easy for students and families to navigate, not become obstacles that cause stress or hinder their progress to graduation,” says Tina McEntire, vice chancellor for enrollment management. “I want to ensure that once we onboard students, the University processes are as smooth as possible so students can focus their time and energy on learning.”
UNC Greensboro is taking big steps to make navigating college easier for students. From new enrollment management tools to committees dedicated to student progression, the University is taking a proactive, personalized approach to support students from the moment they enroll and beyond graduation.
Here’s how:
Spartan Central
Undergraduate students have a new centralized hub where they can get up-to-date information about conducting student business such as paying bills, applying for and viewing financial aid, registering for classes, keeping records updated, and getting ready for graduation. The new website serves as a virtual one-stop shop, bringing together the websites for Financial Aid, Cashiers, and Registrar’s offices. The site also features Minnie, a chatbot that gives students quick answers to their questions and a downloadable calendar that can be filtered by topic and term.
Schedule Hero
This new, innovative registration tool gives students a faster, easier experience by automatically finding the best schedule based on students’ desired classes and timing. It takes into account not only classes needed but also other obligations and time commitments, such as jobs and extracurriculars. Students can view all possible schedule options and compare to find the best choices, share links to schedules with advisors, and save favorites to a shopping cart for easy registration later. With this new tool, students can register for more credits because they can easily see which classes are available, build in break times for work or other commitments, and get registered for the classes they need to graduate.
UNCG Mobile App
With the UNCG Mobile app, students have a wealth of information and resources in the palm of their hand. Full of useful features, the app keeps students up-to-date on the latest developments with FAFSA, registration, emergency alerts, and COVID-19 information and provides quick links to financial aid, student accounts, and more.
Student-centered website improvements and a refreshed student portal
Enrollment-progression-related websites are currently being improved for easier navigation, and students are playing a big part in that process. Student focus groups will conduct usability testing to examine what information is harder to find and what sites are harder to navigate. Plus, a new student portal interface is underway that will show students what they want to see all in one place: declining balance, account holds, canvas assignments, and more.
Committees dedicated to student progression
A student enrollment processes committee has been established to define what the barriers are to student progression and eliminate those barriers by exploring how to better communicate with our students and enable technology to do so. This committee has implemented more warnings to students with an outstanding balance, a registration hold, or other issues and has initiated more communication about payment plan options and scholarships.
This year, new committees focused on the student experience of different populations across campus have also been established. The Transfer Advisory Council and International Student Enrollment Committee work to ensure that the transfer and international student transitions are seamless and that there are equal opportunities for these students including access to scholarships.
For the first-generation student that doesn’t have the knowledge or support to navigate college on their own, the remote student who is juggling both classes and a job who needs information at an instant, or the transfer student trying to make the seamless transition between institutions – UNCG is making sure every Spartan has the support they need to be successful.
To learn more and apply, visit admissions.uncg.edu.
Fall Open House on Nov. 6
Experience all that UNCG has to offer in a full day of events where you’ll hear from Undergraduate Admissions, The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, our full range of Academics Departments, and much more.
Story by Alexandra McQueen, University Communications
Photography by Jiyoung Park, University Communications
