Lack of new ID will likely create delays in Testing Center

By Chris Lusk, Staff Writer

Of the 12,574 students enrolled this fall, only 4,420 have updated to the new student ID cards, said Associate Registrar Alan Stringfellow.

Students planning to use the Testing Center during finals week will want to have a new student ID card issued beforehand or expect delays, said director of testing and assessment Jim Ellis.

Students without their new student ID have been turned away from the Testing Center, he said.

“Right now, our practice is whenever a student comes to us without a new ID, we send them to the Records and Graduation Services desk to get one issued,” Ellis said.

“It takes less than a minute it get a new ID, so it hasn’t been too much of an inconvenience.”

Theater major Karla Sanchez expressed her concern with a potential scheduling conflict between the Testing Center and the records desk

“I was fortunate enough to be here during the records desk’s business hours,” Sanchez said.

“But what if I had been here after the records personnel had gone for the day? What if I came in on the last day of my class’s test and was unable to take it because I didn’t have a new ID?”

Associate Registrar Alan Stringfellow said an exception would be made only to those students who arrive at the Testing Center after the Records and Graduation Services desk is closed.

“If a student comes in after hours and has their old ID, the Testing Center will accept the old card to manually pull up the student’s record,” Stringfellow said in an e-mail.

“We can use a student’s [college ID] number to pull up their record within the tracking system.”

Sanchez said that although on-campus students do not have a good reason for not replacing their IDs, online and distance education students could find themselves in a bind.

“My boyfriend only does online classes this semester,” Sanchez said.

“If it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t have been around to see the constant reminders about replacing his ID.”

Stringfellow said there is still concern regarding online students.

“ … We are trying to work that out with them so it will be as seamless as possible for them,” he said.

Freshman Bryan Willard said he had not yet gotten his new student ID but planned on doing so before finals week and the rush.

“When you have a bunch of students trying to get in the Testing Center at the same time, things will get pretty busy,” Willard said.

“If they are making everyone without a new ID go and get one first, lines will build up because I’m sure there are many people like me who haven’t gotten their new ID yet.

“I’m going to get mine this week instead of waiting in line at the Testing Center, getting turned away, waiting in line for a new ID and then waiting in line again at the Testing Center.”

Many students seemed to take it in stride when they were redirected to the records desk,

“At first I was a little frustrated after standing in line at the Testing Center to have to go down the hall and get in another line,” said psychology major Aaron Cruz.

“Then I realized, they have been advertising this switch for two months. I guess it was my fault.”

Testing Center personnel said they are taking the necessary steps to make sure every student will be able to take any test required of them.

“We are looking into getting the records desk staffed for extended hours during finals week,” Ellis said.

“Since the Testing Center will be open later for finals, it would be a big help to have people able to make new student IDs for those who haven’t yet gotten one.”