When classes start in about five days (are we like the only college that hasn't started yet?) some new features of eLion will be waiting for you. Not only will you be able to buy your books from the overpriced Penn State Bookstore on campus directly from your eLion account, but when you choose your fall '08 classes later this semester you will be able to do so in real time ... what a novel idea.

The Collegian Online tells us that eLion is already implementing a system where students can view and buy their books "by clicking on the semester's course detail option under "student schedule" on students' eLion account." As we mentioned above, when using that service you can only purchase books from the Penn State Bookstore, which, in our opinion, tends to be the most overpriced of the bookstores. Or, if you're going to buy your textbooks online, you could always go to ebay or the various other sites were you get books at like 50% the retail price. But whatever.

While we're on the subject of eLion, Safeguard Old State reported last week that it is a big possibility "students will now be able to schedule classes in real time." So, hopefully when you're registering for next fall you will be able to tell when CSD 101 finally has an opening, instead of clicking "adjust registration" over and over.

In an e-mail CCSG Vice President George Khoury said the new feature is still being tested, "but this is one GIANT LEAP for Penn State Students statewide!"

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