Kevin Burnette, Staff Writer
 
 Say cheese! Appalachian State University professors can now fully prepare for new classes by accessing student AppCard identification pictures and class information on-line.

 Director of Information Technology Services Jeff Williams said the purpose of this new computer service is to allow professors to put a name to the face before meeting new students.

 This new advantage is confined to the Appalachian Intronet which, unlike the Internet, is only accessible to those with on-campus computers.

 Information is accessible only to professors and the registrar, Williams said. Faculty members can only access information on students in their classes, and each professor must use a personal password on his or her personal computer.

 This provision has been strictly observed. "Even department heads are restricted from information," Williams said.

  Students should not worry that professors have access to personal or confidential information, Williams said. The only information available includes a student's name, AppCard photo, identification number, class status, major, campus phone number and address.
 
 A student's home phone number or address is not accessible, Williams said. This access is legal and does not violate student privacy.  Williams said  every precaution has been taken to ensure the protection of students' privacy within the university.

 Williams said violation of student privacy has not been an issue in the project due to the Public Access Law.  Despite this,  students like sophomore Neil Norman of Boone  still have qualms about the new procedure. "As long as they're using it to put a name to the face, that's cool.  But I don't want them to use this information to make a pre-judgment of me," Norman said.

 Other reaction has been more positive. Astronomy professor   Daniel Caton likes the new system. "Isn't (a student's) face public information?" he said.

 "I'm comfortable with it.  Now a professor can bring up a face and know who they're looking for," Caton said. "Ironically, computers are now making life more personable."

 Leslie Williams, a sophomore from Burlington,  is less concerned. "Its not a big deal," she said. "People are going to find out about you anyway."

 Students may eventually get the chance to study their professors before coming to class. Williams said a similar faculty directory is on the drawing board.
 

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