MyCats to remedy log-in issues
Last week marked the launch of myCATS, GC&SU’s new information portal that allows students, faculty and staff members single log-in access to all information systems.
Director of Data Management Resources Kay Graham said there are similarities between myCATS and the current system, but said that myCATS is not an upgrade.
“It is a brand new system,” Graham said. “It’s called a portal and what it will eventually do is give you single sign on access to everything you do at Georgia College & State University.”
Currently, myCATS offers limited options for the user, but will eventually be expanded.
“Right now it is single sign on access to PAWS, courses and E-mail,” Graham said. “It will eventually include WebCT, which will become Web Vista, and any other systems that (GC&SU) takes on in the future.”
GC&SU has to upgrade to the new Web Vista before the license to operate WebCT expires on Dec. 31.
Chris Miller, a senior history major, said he thought myCATS was easy to use, but would rather use the old system.
“I prefer the older version because it is easier,” Miller said. “Plus, it’s what I have been using for the last four years.”
Many users who have tried to log into the new system have discovered that there are problems with myCATS.
“The biggest problem that we’ve had is that the pin synchronization did not work correctly,” Graham said.
Because myCATS is integrated with the Banner registration system, whenever a student changes anything concerning their schedule, the system will automatically reset their pin number.
“At that time it would not take any credentials over with it, so it would break all of its links with PAWS,” Graham said. “Even if (the user) did use the right pin they could not get to PAWS anymore.”
Graham said they have temporarily disabled the pin synchronization while they work to correct the problem. Once the problem is corrected, users will be able to reset their pin without the help SERVE desk.
“We still would like for students to be able to go to PAWS, do their forgot pin question and reset their pin automatically,” Graham said. “Until we get it fixed students will not be able to do that.”
The other problem users are having logging into myCATS is a security feature designed to keep hackers out of the system.
“We have a security feature that when you log into myCATS multiple times unsuccessfully it suspends your account and the more you try to log in the longer it suspends your account,” Graham said.
The help SERVE desk has been busy the last two weeks addressing problems that users are having with myCATS.
“Since the pin synchronization problem started last week, I would say that we are getting about 100 phone calls a day,” Graham said. “Fortunately, we have been able to fix everyone that has called.”
Lizanne Wheeler, a freshman Spanish major, said she has not been able to access myCATS since it was launched, but admitted that she had not contacted the help SERVE desk.
“I haven’t been able to log in,” Wheeler said. “It says it is temporarily disabled, so I just left it alone for a week and tried it again, but it still didn’t work.”
Graham said they hope to have the problems fixed by the end of this week and users experiencing problems should call or E-mail the help SERVE desk, and leave their telephone number.
Despite the current problems with myCATS, Graham said that the new system is an improvement and will benefit students.
“It’s a very good system, a very nice package,” Graham said. “I think students will enjoy it once we get the pin synchronization problem fixed.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Jan 20 2006. Filed under News.
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