The top concerns were:

• Slow sorting, especially those not using the "master" machine.
• Reliability—the database is "temperamental"
• Removing accepted/rejected applications—need to sort by research area
• TA assignments are much too time-consuming
• Label printing—have to change numerous printer settings to switch between label and letter printing. Must process one letter at a time, cannot batch them owing to scheduling/urgency.

Responsibilities are allocated as follows:

• Karen—applications and admissions
• Michelle—General assistance
• Margaret—Primarily deals with non-application stuff, TAs, payroll, scholarships, financial.

For scholarships, UW GSO sends the scholarship letter, addressed to the student, to CS, along with a printout list for verification. Michelle enters the list and sends the letters to students (usually in the grad mail slots). Sometimes the list arrives electronically as an Excel spreadsheet.

TA allocation starts with preference forms going out to students 2 months before the beginning of term. Forms are typically requested back 3 weeks later. A preliminary draft of the TA schedule is prepared around 2 weeks prior to the beginning of term. 1st-time students normally go to 1st-year courses.

GSO contact—Jeannette Nugent, assistant director.

-- Main.ijmorlan - 20 Jun 2005