Computer system glitches, exacerbated by a new customer
service team, left some Otago Polytechnic students worried
they had not been enrolled in courses.
Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker said the processing of
some enrolments was delayed when glitches in a computer
system meant the process had to be done manually.
The computer system ''went live'' last July and problems
associated with new enrolments were only discovered recently
when certain aspects of the system were used for the first
time, he said.
In addition, the polytechnic had a new team of customer
service staff, who were coming to terms with the system.
It meant the ''tail end'' of enrolments was not processed as
usual, causing anxiety among some students.
''We've had some niggles, but that is all they were. We got a
tad behind, probably up to a week behind, with our processing
at one point.
''Right now, we are 100% up to date and we have been since
Wednesday,'' Mr Ker said yesterday.
Students not immediately enrolled through the polytechnic's
computer system received phone calls from staff assuring them
they had been enrolled, he said.
Within days, their personal login information could be used
on the system, which provided access to online learning, Mr
Ker said.
Most classes had yet to begin, so the delay had no impact on
study.
''Some students got a bit anxious because they did not
believe they had been enrolled, or could not immediately
access their personal records through our computer system,''
Mr Ker said.
A small number of midwifery, veterinary and nursing students
had started their courses, but had not been affected by the
delay, Mr Ker said.
Only a small percentage of the student population even knew
about the issue, Mr Ker said.
About 3000 full-time-equivalent students were enrolled, and
almost 1000 more were expected to enrol throughout the year,
particularly for the second semester, he said.
''Overall, we have hit our enrolment targets and are very
pleased to kick off the year in good spirit.
''There are a couple of programmes we wouldn't have minded a
few more enrolments, but that shows the usual fluctuations.
They are not in the disaster territory.''
- rosie.manins@odt.co.nz
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