NEWS

Graduate School at Louisiana Tech University has launched a new website that features a state-of-the-art online application system designed to provide more timely and tailored information for current and prospective graduate students.

According to Dr. Terry McConathy, executive vice-president and dean of the Graduate School, the enhanced website will provide current and prospective graduate students with a single point through which to access a wide variety of information.

“We have designed this website as a ‘one-stop shop’ for quickly and easily accessing information on student services, documents, and processes related to the application, admission, progress through graduate school, thesis and dissertation information, and graduation,” says McConathy.

A new web-based application will also enhance the graduate school site, allowing the University to create custom applications, communicate directly to applicants during and beyond the application process, and collect fees by credit card through a secure network.

Prospective students will be able to track the progress and view the status of the application, view decision letters, and even communicate their decision on attendance.

“The online application has been in the works for a long time,” says McConathy. “Representatives from every college, the Web Team, the Global_Campus have assisted in its development, and Tim Morse and Mike Tolar in the Computing Center have worked diligently to create the interface. Marilyn Robinson’s significant contributions to its successful launch are of special note.”

Links with descriptive narratives are expected to prevent students from digging through layers of web pages to find the information specific to their interests.

McConathy says that the online application is just a small part of the services that the Graduate School will be able to give applicants and the staff/faculty in the colleges to which they are applying more quickly and more completely.

“The system will make us more responsive and more efficient in processing applications and responding to applicants’ needs.”

Current and prospective graduate students are encouraged to visit the new Graduate School website at http://www.latech.edu/graduate_school.

Written by Dave Guerin