Yale Student Information Systems: A Comprehensive Guide

Yale University employs a robust suite of information systems to manage student data and facilitate various administrative processes. This guide provides an overview of these systems, including Banner, Yale Hub, BluePrint printing, Argos reporting, and considerations for choosing a personal laptop.

Banner: The Core Student Information System

Banner serves as the central Student Information System (SIS) at Yale University, supporting critical business processes within Admissions, Financial Aid, the Registrar's Office, and Student Administrative Services. It is a comprehensive system used by university employees to manage student records and related information.

Accessing Banner

University employees requiring access to Banner administrative forms must have their supervisor submit a formal request.

FERPA Compliance

All Banner users are required to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of student records.

Data Usage Requests

University employees needing access to Banner data must complete a Data Usage Request (DUR) form. These submissions are reviewed by the University Registrar’s Office and routed for additional approval as necessary.

Read also: Decoding Yale Admissions

Shortcuts in Banner

Shortcuts allow users to save links to frequently used DataBlocks in a convenient location. Shortcuts created in the Argos Windows client are accessible in the Web Viewer, and vice versa. By default, Report Viewers can only create private shortcuts. Initially, all shortcuts are stored in the root shortcut directory. Lock icons indicate private shortcuts. Users can Locate, Edit, or Remove shortcuts using the icons to the right of each shortcut. Locating a shortcut opens the folder where the DataBlock resides. Removing a shortcut may be necessary if the underlying DataBlock has been deleted.

Yale Hub: Your Centralized Student Resource

Yale Hub is a centralized online resource designed to provide students with easy access to information from various Yale systems. It offers a personalized and customizable experience.

Key Features of Yale Hub

Student Information System Menu: This menu includes the same functions that were previously available in the traditional SIS interface.
Modules: These customizable content boxes display a variety of information types relevant to students.
Calendar: The calendar displays important dates for students, including academic deadlines, sports events, dining schedules, financial aid deadlines, and holidays.
To-Dos: This feature helps students remember and address important tasks and deadlines.

BluePrint Printing: Printing on Campus

The BluePrint system enables students with a Yale NetID to send print jobs from their personal computers or campus computer clusters to the printer network.

Printing from a Personal Laptop

Ensure your laptop is connected to the Yale Secure Wifi network.
Send your print job to the appropriate BluePrint queue.

Printing from a Campus Computer

Log into the computer with your NetID and password.
Send your print job to the appropriate BluePrint queue.

Print Options

You can print in black & white by selecting the BluePrint_BW print queue, or in color.

Guest Printing

If you have a guest print account, you must use the PaperCut WebPrint service.

Read also: Graduates of Yale University

Releasing Print Jobs

Once you receive confirmation that your document is being held in a queue, you can go to any print station on campus to release the print job.

Argos Reporting: Updates and Training

Yale University is transitioning to ARGOS software for Student & Academic reporting. The IT development team is actively building Argos.

Release Information

The official release date for each department will be communicated 30 days before they go live.

Training

Comprehensive training sessions will be provided for all departments affected, offering hands-on experience and answering questions. Weekly drop-in office hours will be available, and appointments can be scheduled directly with a SIS Reporting team member.

Choosing a Personal Laptop: Recommendations for Yale Students

While not mandatory, it is highly recommended that all Yale College students have a personal laptop for coursework, assignments, and participation in campus life. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a laptop:

Read also: Yale's Tuition Explained

Operating System

macOS: macOS syncs well with other Apple products.
Windows 11: Windows 11 runs on a wide array of computers with varying prices and specifications.
Chrome OS: Chrome OS is an Internet-based operating system that syncs to Google Drive, requiring an Internet connection for most tasks.

Size and Dimensions

Standard laptop sizes range from 13 to 16 inches, measured diagonally. Consider the size of your backpack, as many will only fit laptops up to 15 inches.

Keyboard

Macs have standardized keyboards, while Windows PCs typically offer more key press depth on larger laptops. Larger computers may also include full number pads.

Screen

Consider the coloring, brightness, and viewing angle of the screen. Screens are either matte or glossy. Glossy screens display colors more vividly but can catch reflections in bright light. Some Windows and Chromebook laptops have touchscreens, while Mac computers do not.

Touchpad

All laptops have touchpads, but they vary in size, texture, and location. The responsiveness of the touchpad can usually be adjusted in the computer’s settings.

Peripherals and Ports

Consider your current peripherals and desired connections. HDMI and USB-C are common display options, while USB 3.0 and USB-C are the most common plug shapes. USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) can handle display output, charging, and data transfer at higher speeds. However, adaptors may be needed for legacy connections, and USB-C compatible peripherals are generally more expensive.

Battery Life

Determining battery life can be difficult, as baseline battery use varies between models. Battery capacity is not a reliable measure of battery life.

Storage

Solid State Drives (SSD) are the modern standard for laptop storage, offering faster speeds and greater durability compared to Hard Disk Drives (HDD). Consider how much access you need to your data. The average user may not need more than 250 GB of storage space, but many people exceed that, making 500 GB storage options a good choice.

RAM

Random Access Memory (RAM) acts as your computer’s short-term memory, holding programs and data that are currently in use or readily accessible.

Post-Purchase

After purchasing a new computer, students should retain all documentation, software media, and warranty information.

Research

Online reviews and recommendations can be helpful when selecting a laptop. Make sure to save your warranty information.

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