NEW REGISTRATION SYSTEM: WHAT CAN I DO?
WHAT WILL I BE ABLE TO DO WITH THE NEW ONLINE REGISTRATION SYSTEM? Nothing…unless you get a User Account! How do I do that? First, wait until Tuesday; you will be able to get your User Account starting Tue, Jul 24. Then, follow these steps.

     1. Go to www.olliatgmu.org
     2. Click the link "Get a new User Account if you are an OLLI member"
     3. Complete the sign-up form (the username might typically be your first initial and last name, as in jsmith, and is not case sensitive; the password must be at least six characters, all alpha or alpha numeric, and the password is case sensitive; you make up a security question and its answer, such as "cat's name?" and "tabby"--used to verify your identity if you lose or forget your password.)

     An on-screen message will inform you that the account has been created. There are "Forgot User Name?" and "Forgot Your Password?" links on the log-in page. If you forget your username, you can retrieve it via email on the log-in page by providing your first and last name and email address. If you forget your password, you can retrieve it via email on the log-in page by providing your username and answering the security question (note: the password itself is encrypted, and OLLI does not have access to it).

NOW YOU ARE LOGGED IN TO THE REGISTRATION SYSTEM. Let’s examine some other features of the system. Note that at the top left of the screen is a green horizontal menu bar that looks like this:

COURSE SCHEDULE

1. On the Home page, click the link "View the latest course information," or      2. Hover your mouse over the "Courses" top-level menu (green horizontal menu near top left of page) and select "Schedule" on the drop-down menu.      Right now the schedule contains summer course information. I suggest that you "play around" with the course schedule to familiarize yourself with the format. This online course schedule is a tool you can use—in addition to the printed catalog or the catalog on the OLLI Website—to plan your courses for the term. Note that by clicking on the heading of a column you can sort the column. Fall-term course information will be posted to the registration system Website shortly after the OLLI fall catalog goes to press.

REGISTER, CHANGE PRIORITIES, WITHDRAW FROM A CLASS

Hover your mouse over the "Courses" top-level menu (green horizontal menu near top left of page) and select the desired item ("Register," "Change Priorities," "Withdraw") on the drop-down menu.      Your membership must be current to register; this means, for example, that if your membership expires on Sep 1, 2007, you cannot register for fall 2007 classes until you renew your membership. You can join or renew a lapsed membership and register for classes in the same transaction.      Obviously, this is where the action is. However, these features will NOT be active until online registration opens at 8:00 am on Wed, Aug 22. There will be another OLLI E-News article or a 'blast' sent to all members with email within five days of registration start to review registration procedures. For now, remember the following: When you register online you must select courses/events in priority order; we will explain this in detail in the article next week.      Note: You cannot register using the online registration system unless you are willing to pay all applicable charges online using a credit card. If there are no charges for courses/events for which you are registering, you may register using the online system.

MEMBERSHIP (JOIN OLLI)

1. On the Home page, click the link "Join OLLI if you are not already a member," or      2.  Hover your mouse over the "Membership" top-level menu (green horizontal menu near top left of page) and select "Join" on the drop-down menu.      This will take you to a Profile Form to complete. Once you have completed this form, click "Submit." This will take you to the PayPal/VeriSign site where you input your credit-card information. More on credit-card payments in a coming article.      Note that:      > When you authorize your credit card payment at PayPal/VeriSign, click the "Return to OLLI button" and you will be transferred back to the registration system Website. You can then establish a user account as described above. In the meantime, you will receive an email confirmation of your payment.      > If you do not complete the credit-card transaction, the profile information that you just filled out will not be retained.      > You will receive an immediate email confirming your payment and welcoming you to OLLI.

RENEW MEMBERSHIP

1. Hover your mouse over the "Membership" top-level menu (green horizontal menu near top left of page) and select "Renew" on the drop-down menu. You will be taken to a registration screen (the idea being that memberships are renewed coincident with the start of term registration).      2. At the top of the page you are given your expiration date so you know when you have to renew.      3. You also can use this page to make a donation to OLLI.      4. Again, clicking submit takes you to the PayPal/VeriSign site for payment.      Note that:      > When you register, in addition to any renewal fee if you have renewed your membership, any charges for course or special-event fees will be added to the summary amount that will be paid by credit card.      > If you later withdraw from a fee-based special event or course, you will receive a refund by OLLI check, not a credit back to your card. This allows us to avoid additional credit-card fees.

VOLUNTEER/EDIT PERSONAL INFORMATION

1. Hover your mouse over the "Membership" top-level menu (green horizontal menu near top left of page) and select "Volunteer" or "Edit Personal Info" on the drop-down menu. The function of these screens is self evident. Check them out!      2. Staff hopes that you will use the "Update" capability on the "Edit Personal Info" screen whenever you have a change, especially an email address. This will help us to keep our lists and email groups current and ensure you receive all OLLI communications.

MY ACCOUNT

Hover your mouse over the "My Account" top-level menu (green horizontal menu near top left of page) and select "Get User Account," "Change Password" or "Forgot Password" on the drop-down menu. The function of these screens is self evident.

ADMINISTRATION

The "Admin" top-level menu is reserved for staff (creation of a membership directory, control of the membership database, setting class-size parameters, creating class lists and generating confirmation letters) and for Board members (certain management screens).

     Do I have to use the online registration system to register? No. You can still register by walk-in or by mail, and you can still pay by check. Next week's article will describe how the registration process will change slightly as we introduce the new system.
 

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RELATED LINKS
     > Overview of new registration system (Jul 13, 2007)