Maine Street is a dead end
Dave Murphy
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: Perspectives
Upon entering the University of Southern Maine in the fall of 2005, I took an instant liking to the University's website. When I wanted to register for classes, check my student bill, or just print out my schedule, it was simple. A few clicks and I was on my merry way. However, now with the new modifications made and the creation of Maine Street, I've been loathing the web site in its entirety.
Let us all sit back and enjoy the difficulties Maine Street embodies, shall we? First off, we run into a problem before we even get to Maine Street. Getting directed straight to Maine Street is impossible from USM's home page. It can't be done.
The school assumes that internally we have some sort of switch in our brain that tells us to look to the right side of the page and click "current students." What if we aren't currently a student? What if I graduated a year ago and need to find out if I took "Intro to Computers" for a job I'm applying for. I'm not currently a student but I need Maine Street's help. The old homepage had a scroll down selection which visibly showed Web DSIS; it was a piece of cake. So now after my psychic powers have led me to believe "Current Students" indeed is the gateway to Maine Street, I am taken to another page. This is the best part. On the right of the webpage we now have the choice of Web DSIS or Maine Street. Hmm…what's the difference? Wow, thanks USM for letting us know before clicking it! Printed above the two selections state:
"USM is transitioning current student information into Maine Street, the University of Maine System's portal for System-wide online resources. Beginning with the Fall 2008 semester, students will register for courses using Maine Street. The older system, Web DSIS (Web-based Distributed Student Information System), will continue to be available for students to access financial aid information exclusively." Ok, so let me get this straight. Before, we were able to access everything with Web DSIS but for some reason we now have to start using Maine Street which doesn't allow us access to our financial aid information. I don't know about anyone else, but financial aid is a huge reason why I'm able to attend this school. This should have been one of the first things added to Maine Street, but it's not even included.
Let us all sit back and enjoy the difficulties Maine Street embodies, shall we? First off, we run into a problem before we even get to Maine Street. Getting directed straight to Maine Street is impossible from USM's home page. It can't be done.
The school assumes that internally we have some sort of switch in our brain that tells us to look to the right side of the page and click "current students." What if we aren't currently a student? What if I graduated a year ago and need to find out if I took "Intro to Computers" for a job I'm applying for. I'm not currently a student but I need Maine Street's help. The old homepage had a scroll down selection which visibly showed Web DSIS; it was a piece of cake. So now after my psychic powers have led me to believe "Current Students" indeed is the gateway to Maine Street, I am taken to another page. This is the best part. On the right of the webpage we now have the choice of Web DSIS or Maine Street. Hmm…what's the difference? Wow, thanks USM for letting us know before clicking it! Printed above the two selections state:
"USM is transitioning current student information into Maine Street, the University of Maine System's portal for System-wide online resources. Beginning with the Fall 2008 semester, students will register for courses using Maine Street. The older system, Web DSIS (Web-based Distributed Student Information System), will continue to be available for students to access financial aid information exclusively." Ok, so let me get this straight. Before, we were able to access everything with Web DSIS but for some reason we now have to start using Maine Street which doesn't allow us access to our financial aid information. I don't know about anyone else, but financial aid is a huge reason why I'm able to attend this school. This should have been one of the first things added to Maine Street, but it's not even included.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Tiffany
posted 12/02/08 @ 6:27 PM EST
I couldn't agree more. Being a first year student, and the first in my family to ever go to college, all this was very new. I was glad to find out later that my parents and I were not the only ones having trouble with the mess that mainestreet and webdisi is. (Continued…)
Helpdesk Cheryl
Cheryl A. Thompson-USM Helpdesk
posted 12/03/08 @ 1:14 PM EST
The decision to use the new MaineStreet program was implemented by the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees of the University Maine System Office and affected all of the University of Maine locations. (Continued…)
kapow82
Garrett
posted 12/03/08 @ 2:25 PM EST
I appreciate Cheryl's response, and hope that she is correct regarding a promising future for Mainestreet. I would have to agree with Dave and Tiffany for the time being however; there is no question in my mind that Mainestreet has represented a step backwards from DSIS for students in terms of its interface and usability. (Continued…)
Abdikadir
posted 12/04/08 @ 11:31 AM EST
As Cheryl have said the decision to use Maine Street was not the USM's choice, rather implemented by the board of UMS. I agree this system is very complicated an all but i think it's really good idea to get used to this program because i am sure that USM is not going to be the last place you will be using this software. (Continued…)
Arthur Page
posted 12/07/08 @ 11:41 PM EST
I know that it's easy to judge as an outside observer, but how many websites does one school need? Desis, Maine Street, Blackboard, and the USM page makes four. (Continued…)
Brent Atkinson
posted 12/09/08 @ 9:55 AM EST
>How many websites does one school need? Desis, Maine >Street, Blackboard, and the USM page makes four.
First, I want to say it's great to hear the criticism and I applaud the Free Press for voicing the concern. (Continued…)
mAInE mOvERs
posted 1/07/09 @ 4:40 PM EST
Let us all sit back and enjoy the difficulties Maine Street embodies, shall we? First off, we run into a problem before we even get to Maine Street. Getting directed straight to Maine Street is impossible from USM's home page. (Continued…)
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