JOSH FIELDS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Beth Acree, senior associate registrar, spoke about the possibility of the electronic submission of grades and a wait list for courses as an integrated part of WebReg at the Faculty Senate meeting yesterday.

A newly redesigned UA Web site will go online in July, a result of an increasing number of Web site users and, in turn, a subsequent influx of information.

Tracey Hummel, senior support systems analyst, presented a preliminary, "wire frame" version of the new Web site layout to the Faculty Senate in a meeting yesterday, citing a burst of information as the need to revamp.

"With the amount of information exploding onto the Web every year, we need a better communication tool," Hummel said.

For the first time in 3 1/2 years, the UA WebTeam will implement a new design they have been refining since August.

The new site will feature links leading to different pages for students, researchers, faculty and staff, among 46 audiences Hummel identified as UA Web site users.

Hummel said the Web site's URL will not change, but the new front page will cater mostly to visitors outside the university community, such as future students, parents and alumni.

Faculty Sen. Raphael Gruener, a physiology professor, questioned if the Web site work is worthwhile.

"We're creatures of habit," Gruener said. "We're accustomed to finding things, and this would change the orientation of the entire Web site."

Hummel said her research indicated it is easier to scan three columns of text rather than two, which will be reflected in the new design.

Next month, 20 students and 15 faculty members will test the new site, Hummel said.

Hummel said the new Web site design is not costing the university anything - she is one of two full-time UA WebTeam staff members and 15 volunteers who comprise the UA WebCouncil.

Beth Acree, senior associate registrar, presented plans of an "E-Grading" system, which she said would eliminate the current, "frustrating" grade-submitting process.

"Right now the Registrar's Office manually collects and sorts thousands of paper forms, which causes a lot of mistakes," Acree said. "It's a time-consuming process, and switching to a technological system would be a very positive move and something most other universities have already done."

Acree said she hopes to have the major pieces of the system ready for a trial run for the second summer session grade releases.

Acree said the technological system would be more secure than the current one, although kinks with different departments will still need to be worked out.

Cade Bernsen, Associated Students of the University of Arizona president-elect, relayed a message of gratitude to Acree from his predecessor Alistair Chapman.

"Anything to speed up our access to our grades we greatly appreciate," said Bernsen, a political science senior.

Acree also notified the senate of a proposed online class waiting list for class enrollment, evoking mixed reactions from faculty senators.

Acree said the computerized list would provide a quicker and more accurate way for students to add classes while also allowing instructors and administrators to monitor the popularity of classes.

Provost George Davis questioned whether the online waiting list would admit students sequentially or based on need in order to graduate, and Acree said the details were still being worked out.