Hello,
TLDR: When I mark a class as satisfied, I wonder if it is possible to reverse the order of the response screens. In other words, can the reason come up first? It would be good if the buttons on the reason field screen were Save and Return, Cancel, and Select an Elective or something like that. The option "Update Transfer/Waiver Entries" is not suitable since it is hidden, it is difficult to do, it does not appear on the degree audit, and it adds language to the transcript.
FULL: Sorry this is long.
When I click to mark a given class (e.g. Nazarene History and Polity) as satisfied, the first screen I get is the electives the student has taken. I must choose an elective or cancel. We have many students who are not Nazarene and take a class called Denominational Studies instead. This goes in electives then I mark it as satisfied. Then I get a screen with a field to specify reason, which I usually leave blank since it's already done. So far, so good. However, in the case of students who have taken these classes at another institution they are waived from the curriculum. In this case, I do not have a suitable elective to satisfy the requirement with.
What I have been doing in such a case is going and marking the Group as satisfied. This option gives me only the reason field. So I type something like "H75 taken at KNU" (Nazarene History and Polity taken at Korea Nazarene University). This suffices, but it's kind of ugly and there isn't a lot of room in the field for lengthy explanations (50 characters maximum). For example, if Nazarene History and Polity, one semester of NT Greek or Biblical Hebrew (not the required two), and Foundations of Christian Education are taken elsewhere I need to use abbreviations which may be unclear to someone else.
I wonder if it is possible to reverse the order of the response screens for marking a class as satisfied. In other words, can the reason come up first? It would be good if the buttons on the reason field screen were Save and Return, Cancel, and Select an Elective or something like that.
To head off a potential objection: yes, I am aware that the option "Update Transfer/Waiver Entries" exists. However, for my present purpose this does not present a viable option, for four reasons. First, this option is under a completely different tab, so I have to exit out of the audit and open up Schedules and Registration. Second, it is a complex operation which my program directors (including myself) find difficult to do, especially when there are ten students waiting in line for academic advising. Third, even when this action is performed it does not reflect on the degree audit, which is the primary document my program directors use. Fourth, this option adds text to the transcript, which has potential legal ramifications. I mean by this that there is specific language that the Registrar needs on the transcript, and if the program directors or the dean or whoever is adding stuff it may come out inconsistent.
Thank you so much for all your hard work to make GNECsis sucessful.
Hello,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write out such a detailed description of what you would like to see improved! It was very clear.
I have added this the list of feature improvements. I think the things you mentioned are very good as we want to make the system as efficient as possible.
Dana
*GNECsis Support Specialist*
I thought later of an alternative option that would not require reversing the screen order. This would be to add an additional button on the screen where I select an elective, with "Custom Reason" or something similar.
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary
Professor and Advisor
I like this and have added it to update request!
Dana
*GNECsis Support Specialist*
If you manually satisfy a course, it must be tied to a course.
If you manually satisfy a group, it just requires a reason.
What other schools have done is to put courses like this in their own group, and then you mark the group as satisfied and it just requires a reason. Would this work for you?
Senior Software Developer
Global Ministry Center - Church of the Nazarene
I didn't see this response until weeks later. :-) No, this wouldn't do what I'm thinking. The classes waived from undergrad could be from anywhere: pre-seminary requirements, required subjects, biblical exegesis, etc. If I could just set up a reason, then the waiver reason would show in the very same line so it would be easier to read. As it stands, the "reason" box that comes up with a manually satisfied course is useless. Why do I need to put a reason when I have already marked that an elective meets a requirement?
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary
Professor and Advisor
Hello,
I will email you directly. I would like to schedule a time that we can do a zoom meeting and I can get a better idea of your needs.
Dana
*GNECsis Support Specialist*
Hi Dana...I'm looking forward to having a Zoom conversation with you on this. I'm generally available until 10:00 or 11:00 PM Manila time, which I think is 9:00 or 10:00 AM CDT.
Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary
Professor and Advisor
When you click to satisfy a course requirement on the degree audit, a list of courses will appear. I have added a button for "No Existing Course". Use this option if it is not a one for one course substitute. It will then take you to a text box to enter a reason.
On the degree audit, it will show "Manually Satisfy: " + reason, plus the number of credits the original course is offered for. The credits are then included in the number required for that group in order to fulfill the group.
This will be included in version 2.50, the next version to be installed.
Senior Software Developer
Global Ministry Center - Church of the Nazarene