Banner, Binghamton University’s new online record-handling system, began its inaugural semester with an unsteady start as students attempting last minute schedule changes were unable to log on last Friday afternoon.

Terry Kelley-Wallace, the University registrar, acknowledged the problem but said that initial difficulties were to be expected.

“As with any new system, there were some system controls that needed adjustment,” she said.

The University’s Information Technology Services department posted a message on its Web site that Banner was down because of a “system resource issue.”

When the Banner system returned later Friday evening, students were able to access the Banner Self-Service tool — a basic version of the program — but not the regular Banner. The registrar’s office is planning to reinstate the full version of Banner after necessary adjustments are finished and tested.

The Self-Service tool is supposed to have the same functions as Banner, but some students say they had difficulties in choosing and registering for the classes they needed, and reported seeing error messages.

Several error messages are possible, so students would have to come to the registrar’s office to find out why they could not register, Kelley-Wallace said.

“The new system is pretty confusing. When I registered I couldn’t tell if I was really in the classes, I had to keep checking over and over,” said David Geller, a junior in School of Management.

The Registrar’s office also denied rumors that students were being charged for dropping and re-entering a class. Students are not penalized in any way for changing their schedules.

“There are bound to be rumors and misconceptions when moving to a new system,” Kelley-Wallace said.

Students have also reported that their DARS reports had missing or erroneous information after the switch from the BUSI system to Banner.

Dan Kalenscher, a senior biology and philosophy major, said he noticed a difference in the DARS reports.

“It takes a day or two to go through now,” he said.

In order for the data in the reports to be corrected, a specific table of cross-listed courses must be updated by the Registrar’s office. The update process is expected to be complete by next week, Kelley-Wallace said.

In addition to the Banner system, this semester also marks the initiation of B-numbers. Each student has been assigned a B-number to be used as identification on campus. These numbers are now being used in place of Social Security numbers in an effort to protect students’ personal information.

Although the B-numbers are meant to help students, some have expressed frustration with having to remember another set of numbers.

“I have yet to bother with memorizing my B-number because it seems pointless,” said Cesar A. Alvarez, a senior majoring in Asian studies.

“It’s too much to remember,” agreed Anthony Sin, a senior environmental science major.

But Jose De La Rosa, a senior accounting major who had his Social Security number leaked last March when an adviser in SOM accidentally sent an e-mail containing students’ personal information to the wrong list serv, said he thinks B-numbers are a good concept.

“I definitely feel that B-numbers are more secure,” he said. “But it might be a little late for me.”

Students can access their B-numbers through the “Student” tab on the Banner system. The number is also present on the top of their registration page in the temporary Banner Self-Service system.