By Selena Stevens

The new system allows students at UK and Lexington Community College to monitor their class schedules, grades, transcripts, addresses, bills and other information. Students can update their personal information and can print copies of schedules, grades and unofficial transcripts.

March 27, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- A new Web-based student information system allows students to access their University of Kentucky records from any location, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The new webUK replaced the previous Student Access Information System, or SAIS, this semester and includes information for all current and many former students.

It allows students at UK and Lexington Community College to monitor their class schedules, grades, transcripts, address, bills and other information. Students can update their personal information, such as addresses and phone numbers, and can print copies of schedules, grades and unofficial transcripts.

Since its launch, the site has averaged more than 2,000 hits per day, with the busiest hours being 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

But students use it all though the day - the hours between 4 and 6 a.m. get an average of 10 hits an hour. Grades, schedules, bills and addresses are the most active.

"We wanted to give our students more flexibility and greater access to their records," said Tonya Prince, assistant director of technology and data management in the Office of Undergraduate Admission and University Registrar, who maintains the system. "Students and parents told us they wanted a way to access the information at their convenience."

Previously, students could access their information though the Web SAIS system or UK-VIP, a telephone access system.

Being able to access and print schedules and grades more conveniently was a service many students requested. Up to six semesters can be retrieved by the system, and a report is given of semester and cumulative grade point averages.

"Many wanted access for insurance purposes," Prince said. "They could also use these records for anything that doesn't require an official transcript."

Official transcripts, complete with the UK seal, still must be obtained in the Registrar's office.

Prince noted that the site's pages don't just offer information, but are expanded to help students understand the records. For instance, an explanation of how to calculate grades is included in the grade report area.

The site's reports also give students warnings regarding academic and financial status, and tell them how to remedy the situation. Version 1 of webUK will be updated after the spring semester with version 2.3, Price said.

She also said plans for expanding webUK include application status check for prospective students, financial aid status check and registration for classes.

The site can be accessed at webuk.uky.edu or through the UK Web Site Index under webUK.