Empower - AUBG’s New Student Information System & All You Need to Know

An important change in how students register for courses is in effect from May 2023 onwards. There is a new Student Information System called Empower.

Robert White, the Dean of Faculty at AUBG, held information sessions for students who would like to learn more about the changes and improvements. He presented the main features of the system and answered questions that arose in the student body.

The Registrar’s Office “do not expect everything to go smoothly” with Empower. It did not provide students immediate access as it wanted to look through the data and iron out any bugs. The goal is “for the new Student Information System to be operating smoothly by the start of fall 2023.”

What Are the Main Features of the New Student Information System?

The most notable aspect is that it will host all functions such as course registration, course information, forms, and useful tools like the study plan and the academic catalog in one place for convenience. As a result, the old course registration system and the Blackbaud Student Portal will no longer be of any use and be switched off permanently at the end of Spring 2023. 

One major change introduced in Empower is the ability for students to complete various forms, such as the Leave of Absence Request, online. These will no longer be available as PDF files and will not be submitted on paper in the Registrar’s Office as they were until now.

Another difference is the introduction of Faculty and Staff Directories, which display details such as their individual schedules. This feature will be useful for students when they want to arrange a meeting with a professor or a staff member. 

Students planning to participate in the Erasmus exchange program will be able to view courses in other universities that are pre-approved for transfer. 

If a desired course is not included on the list, they can submit a Course Approval Request form. Afterward, students can send it to the Department Chair responsible for the given course who will review it.

Empower will feature the study plan function which will enable students to organize their academic future in AUBG. At the same time, it is going to enable the Registrar’s Office to forecast the demand for certain courses and apply changes if necessary. 

Students will have the opportunity to consult more than one academic advisor about their course choices. In case they are completing a double-major, they will have an advisor who is a professor in the particular department.

What Will Change in the Course Registration Process and Will Students Receive Training?

The implementation of Empower has resulted in a shift of the course registration period for AUBG students. They are now going to sign up for courses for the Fall ‘23 semester at the end of May and the beginning of June. 

According to the official information presented by the Registrar’s Office, the plan was for registration time slot groups to be removed. However, after the first wave of testing the system, there is a possibility that the registration timeslots will remain.

Additionally, White said, “I think, course registration will be in the same hour” on all days. He added that “the time of the day is important because students will be in different time zones.”

White presented a three-step testing process of course pre-registration consisting of small-group tests, training “play” sessions, and a senior students “stress test.” The last one will feature all future senior students who are going to simulate real pre-registration.

All AUBG students are going to receive training on how to pre-register for courses before the start of the actual pre-registration process in the summer. This is going to ensure they are prepared for the real course pre-registration in the beginning of summer and relieve them from unnecessary stress.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Empower?

The advantages from a student’s point of view include all of the useful features that the system has. The advantages for the Registrar’s Office are, according to White, “phenomenal.”

He also said that it is easier to diagnose problems during add/drop week and that “the new system saves time for both myself and the Registrar’s Office.” White can also access student information such as personal information and emergency health contacts. 

When asked about disadvantages, White said, “It’s difficult for me to say at this point.” The only disadvantage he stated was “simply the amount of work that’s involved in transitioning from an old system to a new system.”

Why Was the New Student Information System Not Introduced Earlier?

White said the decision to create it was taken over five years ago and “it was a battle.” The necessary steps included budget approval, support from higher administration, and the Board of Trustees, which took years.

The approval for the system was given two years ago and right after that began the process of choosing the system’s interface. White said, “We’re still in the process and there is a lot of work to be done.”