The Pass 2 registration period for students to enroll for fall classes is being changed to accommodate a major upgrade to the Banner student information system. About 29,000 undergraduate and graduate students will be affected.

The Pass 2 appointment period will begin on Aug. 28, as published, but it will conclude Aug. 31, instead of Sept. 8. Students will continue to have a four-hour window for enrollment.

Pass 2 open registration will begin Sept. 13, four days later than published, and will end Sept. 24, as previously scheduled. Students will not be able to enroll in classes from Sept. 1 through 12, but they will be able to view their SISWeb account until 5 p.m. on Sept. 1 and beginning again on Sept. 5 after the completion of the upgrade.

University Registrar Frank Wada said the time between the revised periods will be used by the campus to verify that the system operates properly following its upgrade the Labor Day weekend.

Banner is the main software interface for controlling and organizing student data from admissions information to course enrollment, final grades and financial aid. Federal mandates regarding financial aid require that Banner be upgraded no later than November to prepare for the 2007-08 year.

According to Information and Educational Technology (IET), the upgrade also will bring the system in line with current industry standards, practices and technology, such as providing Web access, enhanced security and compatibility with other systems.

Wada said consultations with IET and core users identified the Labor Day weekend as the period least disruptive to campus operations. He added that Pass 2 registration could not begin earlier, because Pass 1 does not conclude until Aug. 27.

"Although the upgrade should not adversely affect SISWeb registration or the Banner system," Wada said, "a cautious approach was recommended to mitigate unforeseen challenges."

"We acknowledge that the schedule change may inconvenience some students," he said, "but we feel it is in the best interest of smooth enrollment for students and the upgrade."

The Office of the University Registrar posted revised appointment times to students' SISWeb online accounts on Friday, July 28. The office also sent students information postcards on July 28 and e-mail notices on Monday, July 31. Campus departments were informed by e-mail on Monday, July 31.

College and department staff will be able to review course wait list information on Sept. 1 before the system goes down at 5 p.m., and the data will be available again on Sept. 5 on the upgraded Banner system.

The campus will adhere to the revised schedule even if the Banner upgrade is delayed, the registrar said.

The calendar that is part of the online Class Schedule and Registration Guide (see http://registrar.ucdavis.edu/csrg/ ) has also been revised. For more information, e-mail registrar@ucdavis.edu or call (530) 752-3639.

More information about Banner can be found at http://sis.ucdavis.edu/current.htm.