CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
INTRODUCTION
Clearance is a status granted individuals,
typically members of the military, university graduates and employees of
governments and their contractors, allowing them access to classified
information, i.e. state secrets. The term "clearance " is also
sometimes used in private organizations that have a formal process to vet
employees for access to sensitive information. A clearance by itself is
normally not sufficient to gain access; the organization must determine that
the cleared individual has a "need to know" the information. No one
is supposed to be granted access to classified information solely because of
rank or position, but once a clearance is obtained, access to certain
information or gain of freedom will be granted.
As many universities have
choosing to pursue the dynamic educational options available online. The
advantages of e-learning are many. As people of all ages and backgrounds become
increasingly reliant on the internet for information, online learning becomes
more convenient and efficient here the need for an online clearance system. The
skills needed to access and comprehend information online are becoming
commonplace, and the flexibility of wireless computing means that any coffee shop,
airport or bedroom can become a classroom. Online courses, registrations,
clearance have few, if any scheduling restrictions, well-integrated learning
resources and competitive degree options, with an online clearance system.
The changing
online college landscape now includes online clearance system, traditional
undergraduate and general studies programs. However, career learning is still
the most popular online training option.
1.2
BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
Caritas university, Amorji nike Enugu
is a private University approved by the federal Government of Nigeria on Dec 16
2004. It was officially opened on Jan 21,2005 by the Federal minister for
education, Prof . Fabian Osuji. It is
the second catholic university founded by Rev. Fr. Prof E.M.P Edeh. The school is managed by the
congregation of Sisters of Jesus the
Saviour, a religious congregation of nuns founded by him. The school operates
the faculty system and presently has four faculties; Engineering, Enviromentals,
Management and social sciences and natural science
In
Universities like Caritas, there is need for automated method of keeping data,
more so a greater need for an online clearance system. This would go a long way
in alleviating the various problems and stress involved in the manual method of
clearance. Moreover, the issue of delayed youth service as a result of
inability to complete the tedious manual process of clearance would be
curtailed.
1.3
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The processes of clearing students
after their graduation requires that the students be cleared in various
departments and information units. Among which are:
§
Library fines and overdue or lost library
materials from the University
§ Departmental
Dues
§ Infirmary and
bookstore charges
§ Residence hall
damage charges
§ Return of
athletic equipment
§ Student Union
Fee
§ Bursary and
all other charges
For a graduating student to carry out
his her clearance from all these departments, it normally takes a lot of time
and a lot of processes and delays in clearing the student for youth service as
well as collection of statement of result. Hence it became imperative for an
online clearance system to eliminate the shortcomings of the manual system in
place.
1.4 OBJECTIVES
OF THE STUDY
The
objective of this project include:
·
To effectively and efficiently process students clearance
·
To provide a reliable and transparent system devoid of
personal inclinations and interest
·
To provide borderless access
·
To ensure prompt clearance
·
To alleviate the problems and stress of travelling and queuing
up of students during clearance.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This research work is limited to clearance system for
graduating students from Caritas University. The software developed will be
carried out using HTML, Visual Basic and
Ms Access to manage both the database and at the same time make the
software online.
1.6 LIMITATIONS
This project covers all
aspect of online clearance system using Caritas University as a case study.
However, the following were the constraints:
Time
constraints: Due to time constraint, the web – page developed covers only clearance
from various departments by the graduating students.
Financial
constraints: It would cost a lot to develop a
full web – based clearance system.
Some
documents were considered confidential and were not made available.
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
The
project work will help in a good number of ways to ease the queuing system in
the university as the online clearance system will help students to achieve
what ever they want to achieve without coming to the various offices for
clearance.
Clear
advantages of Internet information processing over those of traditional manual
system are higher yields. Online clearance system allows the users to check
their clearance status as whether they are in any way indebted to the school,
fill and submit their clearance form, and obtain their clearance letter. There
are many other advantages of online clearance system and some of them are
listed below.
o It saves a lot of time.
o It is very convenient to use it
right from the bedroom, office or anywhere in the World.
o Information processing are very
fast and delays can be avoided.
o It is inexpensive to students and
school management.
·
Help the school in reducing costs such as
labour and stationary.
1.8 DEFINITION
OF TERMS
Computer Network: Computer Network is a system that connects two or
more
computers together using a communication link.
World Wide Web: World Wide Wed simply called www is the most
important
tool of the Internet. It was created ion the late
1980s in Europe
and was used limitedly in academic
cycle.
Clearance: Official
certification of blamelessness, trustworthiness,
or
suitability for graduation and issue of certificates in
degree course.
Databases:
A
systematically arranged collection of computer data,
structured so
that it can be automatically retrieved or
manipulated. It
is also called databank.
File Transfer: Any kind of computer file
can be sent via the Internet
from one
Internet user to another. Table of accounts on
spreadsheets,
design by a graphic artists, music sound
files etc, can
all be exchanged in this way.
Web Brower: This is a special kind of
software that processes hypertext
make-up language
(HTML) document. In other words, a
web browser is a computer program
that interprets HTML
command to collect,
arranged and display the parts of a
web page.
Web Site: A website is a collection
of many interconnected web pages
organized by a specific college,
organization company etc,
containing web pages (good
and commodities) on the Internet.
Web site are stored on web
servers. There are many web site and
thousand of HTML pages on each
web site. A web site is a
treasure of information and
entertainment.
Hyperlinks:
Hyperlinks are highlighted words and phrase you find on web
documents that you can
click on as to jump to some other
documents or Internet
services.
Online: Connected via a
computer attached to or available via a central
computer network.
Offline: Disconnected
from computer network; describes a computer
terminal or peripheral device
disconnected from a computer
network.
System: Set of computer components that is, an
assembling of hardware,
software and peripherals
functioning together.