The new SIS system integrated with Canvas is affecting students and faculty with log-ins for their accounts causing difficulties accessing course material.
Monday’s Academic Senate meeting, the first in the new Faculty and Staff Building, also included discussions about budgets and ASO’s plan of action after the removal of DACA.
Distance Education Coordinator Wendy Bass said in her campus report that the new SIS system, which has been causing issues for faculty and students, is now combined with Canvas in a single sign on. Bass reported that students have been accidentally dropped from a class, and though they will be re-enrolled, it may take up to 24 hours for the system to update.
Bass reported that students have been accidentally dropped from a class, and though they will be re-enrolled, it may take up to 24 hours for the system to update.
“All students should be in Canvas unless there is an accidental drop,” Bass said.
The biggest issue concerning the new system is the lack of automatic connection between Canvas and SIS, Outcomes Coordinator Jennifer Moses said. She said that it is a district decision, and there is not much that Pierce College can do.
Moses said that because Canvas and the SIS system are separate entities, there is an integration problem.
“The district, as well as Pierce, needs to work toward better integration of all of our varying technology,” Moses said.
The Faculty Senate Budget was approved at the meeting and includes new changes like more categories for spending. The senate is becoming better at identifying what their expenses are, according to treasurer Angela Belden.
As for the campus wide budget, it is in crisis, according to Belden.
“We have put in a practice of having a six percent reserve at all times, and in the past few years we have watched our budget go lower and lower,” said Belden.
The Budget Committee is working on ways to fix this, according to Belden. The task force is brainstorming ideas to generate revenue or to cut costs. The committee meets the first Tuesday of every month at 1:30 and Belden recommend that anyone who could attend should.
The next Academic Senate meeting will be held Sept 25.